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The Indiana Supreme Court has amended the Rules of Trial Procedure to simplify eligibility for special judge selection in circuit, superior and probate courts.
Rule 79 now says a special judge “need not be a resident of the county where the case is pending.”
Previously, the rule also said accessibility should be considered in making the selection, and that senior judges “shall be eligible for service as special judge only in courts in which the senior judge is currently appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to serve as senior judge.” That language was removed.
The July 7 order also adds a sentence to Rule 81.1 concerning cases that involve family or household members.
“Guardianship (GU) cases may be heard with other cases but may not be consolidated into a common case number and must maintain their ‘GU’ case type designation,” the amended rule says.
The amendments will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
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