NCJ Number
55150
Date Published
1977
Length
117 pages
Annotation
INDIANA'S COURT SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED IN ONE OF A SERIES OF REPORTS PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS TO HELP STATES IMPLEMENT AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (ABA) STANDARDS ON COURT ORGANIZATION.
Abstract
THE REPORT, WHICH IS BASED ON A REVIEW OF INDIANA'S CONSTITUTION, STATUTES, COURT RULES, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, IS IN THREE PARTS: OVERVIEW, CHARTS, AND PROFILES. THE OVERVIEW OUTLINES INFORMATION ON COURT STRUCTURE (APPELLATE AND TRIAL COURTS); JUDGES (QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, TERM OF OFFICE, DISCIPLINE, REMOVAL, COMPENSATION, RETIREMENT AGE, CONTINUING EDUCATION, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS); ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURE (ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY, STATE- AND COURT-LEVEL ADMINISTRATION, POLICYMAKING AUTHORITY, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL); FINANCE AND BUDGET (FUNDING, FINES AND FEES, BUDGETING PROCEDURES); AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (RECORDKEEPING, STATISTICS, AND DATA PROCESSING). THE DEGREE OF CONFORMITY BETWEEN EACH ASPECT OF COURT OPERATIONS AND THE ABA STANDARDS IS NOTED. CHARTS DEPICT COURT ORGANIZATON, JURISDICTIONS, AND FUNDING SOURCES. THE MAIN BODY OF THE REPORT CONSISTS OF DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE ASPECTS OF COURT OPERATIONS OUTLINED IN THE OVERVIEW. THE INFORMATION IS ARRANGED TO CORRESPOND TO ABA STANDARDS ON UNIFIED COURT SYSTEMS, JUDICIAL COMPETENCE AND INDEPENDENCE, RULEMAKING AND POLICYMAKING, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FINANCING AND BUDGETING, AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS. A CHART INDICATING THE EXTENT TO WHICH INDIANA'S COURT SYSTEM IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH EACH ABA STANDARD IS KEYED TO THE BODY OF THE REPORT. SOURCE DOCUMENTS ARE LISTED. (LKM)