Committee members to discuss need for new courts, judicial officers at final meeting

Indiana lawmakers will gather for the final meeting of the Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary this week, when they will address the need for new courts or judicial officers throughout the state.

The meeting, which will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, marks the end of a three-month session in which lawmakers have also heard testimony on civil forfeiture reform, and on the need for additional funding to help public defenders’ offices provide indigent defense services to parents whose children are alleged to be children in need of services and people charged with misdemeanors. Thursday’s testimony regarding requests for additional courts or judicial officers marks the last item on the committee’s summer study agenda.

Then, committee members will adopt their final report for the Legislature based on the testimony they heard over the last three months. The meeting will be held in Room 431 in the Indiana Statehouse.