State Rep. Stemler: Clark County court bill moves to full House

For immediate release:
Jan. 21, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana House committee today passed legislation authored by State Rep. Steven R. Stemler (D-Jeffersonville) that reduces the growing case load for the Clark County Circuit Court by providing additional court personnel.

The Indiana House Courts & Criminal Code Committee unanimously approved House Bill 1110 that grants the Clark County Circuit Court judges an opportunity to jointly appoint a third magistrate.

“Clark County’s largest court, Jeffersonville City Court, is closing at the end of 2015,” said Stemler. “Approximately 7,455 cases will be coming into trial courts that are already operating beyond their intended capacity. Additionally, two out of four city and town courts have closed since 2010. The closings of Charlestown and Sellersburg courts have required the trial courts to also absorb those cases.

“Our close proximity to the Louisville Metropolitan area and Clark County’s growing population are two factors in the rising number of cases,” he added.

According to the Indiana Supreme Court’s Weighted Caseload Measurement System, Clark County’s need for an additional magistrate has increased annually over the last four years. The most recent statistics show that Clark County’s need for supplemental judicial officers is the highest in Indiana at 2.1 times the number of judicial officers that are currently employed.

“There is immense need for an additional magistrate to help equalize the case load and enable the courts to expedite case rulings in order to bring justice to the community in a timely fashion,” explained Stemler. “I was pleased that Judges Vicki Carmichael and Joseph Weber of the Clark County Circuit Court were able to testify in support of this legislation during today’s committee meeting.”

HB 1110, co-authored by State Rep. Gregory Steuerwald (R-Avon), will now advance to the full House for consideration.