How Does the Indiana Circuit Court Work?

The Indiana court system consists of 91 judicial circuits. There is at least one Circuit Court in each of the state’s counties, except for Ohio and Dearborn counties. These counties are a joint circuit, and they share a combined courthouse. Indiana Circuit Courts are jury trial courts with unlimited trial jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases heard in the state. Typically, Circuit Courts hear cases that are outside the jurisdiction of other courts. These types of cases include:

• Cases involving felony charges and any lesser offenses included in a felony charge
• Misdemeanor and ordinance violation cases (Circuit Courts handle these types of cases in counties that do not have Superior Courts)
• General civil claims beyond the jurisdiction of the other trial courts in the state (In counties without Superior Courts, excluding Marion County, Circuit Courts also handle small claims cases)
• Civil equity cases
• Domestic relations cases
• Juvenile matters (Circuit Courts share jurisdiction with Superior Courts over some types of juvenile cases, such as termination of parental rights, juvenile delinquency, child abuse, and child neglect cases)
• Mental Health and probate cases (Circuit Courts share jurisdiction with Superior Courts in these types of cases)

In addition to this, Indiana Circuit Courts also have appellate jurisdiction over decisions rendered by the state’s City and Town Courts.

There are over 110 Circuit Court judges in the Indiana court system. Judges are elected by judicial circuits in elections held every six years. These elections are usually partisan elections, except in Vanderburgh County, where the elections are non-partisan. Generally, before an individual can be elected as a Circuit Court judge, the person must be licensed to practice law in the state of Indiana and be a resident of the circuit. Note that some counties have additional qualification requirements. Also, as stipulated by statutory law, all judges in Indiana must retire from office once they turn 75.

The length of time a case takes in an Indiana Circuit Court varies depending on the type of case being heard. However, decisions rendered in these courts can be appealed. In civil cases, appeals can be made by any party that is unsatisfied with the court’s decision, while in criminal cases, only individuals that are found guilty of a charge have the right to appeal. Appeals are usually made to the Indiana Court of Appeals, except in criminal cases where a death sentence or a sentence of life without the possibility of parole is issued. In these types of cases, appeals are made directly to the Indiana Supreme Court. Parties that wish to appeal a Circuit Court’s decision must begin the process not more than 30 days after the sentence is issued.

Parties that wish to access Indiana Circuit Court records may do so online through the case search website provided by the Indiana judicial system. Searches can be done by categories, which include name, case number, and attorney. Records that are unavailable via this site can be obtained by contacting the office of the Court Clerk in the county where the case in question was filed. Note that accessing court records via the Court Clerk’s office may require the payment of a fee.

Indiana Circuit Courts can be contacted via the following information:

Adams County Circuit Court

112 S 2nd Street

Decatur, IN 46733

Phone: (260) 724–5309

Allen County Circuit Court

715 S Calhoun Street

Rm 200A

Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Phone: (260) 449–7245

Bartholomew County Circuit Court

234 Washington Street

P. O. Box 924

Columbus, IN 47201

Phone: (812) 379–1600

Benton County Circuit Court

Benton County Courthouse

706 E 5th Street

Room 37

Fowler, IN 47944

Phone: (765) 884–0930

Blackford County Circuit Court

110 W Washington Street

Hartford City, IN 47348

Phone: (765) 348–1130

Boone County Circuit Court

212 Courthouse Square

Lebanon, IN 46052

Phone: (765) 482–3510

Brown County Circuit Court

20 E Main Street

P. O. Box 85

Nashville, IN 47448

Phone: (812) 988–5510

Carroll County Circuit Court

101 W Main Street, Delphi, IN 46923

Phone: (765) 564–4485

Cass County Circuit Court

200 Court Park

Room 407

Logansport, IN 46947

Phone: (574) 753–7740

Clark County Circuit Court Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4

Clark County Government Building

501 E Court Avenue

Room 137

Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Phone: (812) 285–6244

Clay County Circuit Court

609 E National Avenue

Room 213

Brazil, IN 47834

Phone: (812) 448–9025

Clinton County Circuit Court

265 Courthouse Square

Frankfort, IN 46041

Phone: (765) 659–6335

Crawford County Circuit Court

715 Judicial Plaza Dr

P. O. Box 375

English, IN 47118

Phone: (812) 338–2565

Daviess County Circuit Court

200 E Walnut Street

P. O. Box 739

Washington, IN 47501

Phone: (812) 254–8664

Dearborn County Circuit Court

165 Mary Street

Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Phone: (812) 537–8867

Decatur County Circuit Court

150 Courthouse Square

Rm 244

Greensburg, IN 47240

Phone: (812) 663–8223

DeKalb County Circuit Court

100 S Main Street

P. O. Box 230

Auburn, IN 46706

Phone: (260) 925–0912

Delaware County Circuit Court Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

100 W Washington Street

Muncie, IN 47305

Phone: (765) 747–7857 ext. 451 (Court 1)

Phone: (765) 747–7857 ext. 457 (Court 2)

Phone: (765) 747–7857 ext. 456 (Court 3)

Phone: (765) 747–7857 ext. 453 (Court 4)

Phone: (765) 747–7857 ext. 452 (Court 5)

Dubois County Circuit Court

One Courthouse Square

Jasper, IN 47546

Phone: (812) 481–7035

Elkhart County Circuit Court 1

Goshen Courthouse

101 N Main Street

Room 204

Goshen, IN 46526

Phone: (574) 535–6430

Elkhart County Circuit Court 2

Elkhart Courts Building

315 S 2nd Street

Elkhart, IN 46516

Phone: (574) 523–2233

Phone: (574) 523–2284 (Juvenile)

Fayette County Circuit Court

401 N Central Avenue

Connersville, IN 47331

Phone: (765) 825–1813

Floyd County Circuit Court

311 Hauss Sq

Rm 235

New Albany, IN 47150

Phone: (812) 948–5411

Fountain County Circuit Court

301 4th Street

P. O. Box 183

Covington, IN 47932

Phone: (765) 793–6230

Franklin County Circuit Court

459 Main Street

Brookville, IN 47012

Phone: (765) 647–5111

Fulton County Circuit Court

815 Main Street

RocheStreeter, IN 46975

Phone: (574) 223–4824

Gibson County Circuit Court

101 N Main Street

Princeton, IN 47670

Phone: (812) 386–6474

Grant County Circuit Court

101 E 4th Street

Marion, IN 46952

Phone: (765) 668–8121

Greene County Circuit Court

1 E Main Street

Bloomfield, IN 47424

Phone: (812) 384–8532

Hamilton County Circuit Court

1 Hamilton County Square

Rm 106

Noblesville, IN 46060

Phone: (317) 776–9629

Hancock County Circuit Court

9 E Main Street

Rm 213

Greenfield, IN 46140

Phone: (317) 477–1109

Harrison County Circuit Court 1

1445 Gardner Lane NW

Room 3126

Corydon, IN 47112

Phone: (812) 738–8149

Harrison County Circuit Court 2

300 N Capitol Avenue

Room 203

Corydon, IN 47112

Phone: (812) 738–4289

Hendricks County Circuit Court

51 W Main Street

Room 204

Danville, IN 46122

Phone: (317) 745–9231

Henry County Circuit Court Nos. 1, 2 & 3

1215 Race Street

Room 120

New CaStreetle, IN 47362

Phone: (765) 529–6401

Howard County Circuit Court

104 N Buckeye Street

Rm 114

Kokomo, IN 46901

Phone: (765) 456–2204

Huntington County Circuit Court

201 N Jefferson Street

Huntington, IN 46750

Phone: (260) 358–4817

Jackson County Circuit Court

111 S Main Street

P. O. Box 318

Brown Streetown, IN 47220

Phone: (812) 358–6116

Jasper County Circuit Court

115 W Washington Street

Room 204

Rensselaer, IN 47978

Phone: (219) 866–4926

Jay County Circuit Court

120 N Court Street

Portland, IN 47371

Phone: (260) 726–4951

Jefferson County Circuit Court

300 E Main Street

Room 203

Madison, IN 47250

Phone: (812) 265–8922

Jennings County Circuit Court

24 N Pike Street

P. O. Box 385

Vernon, IN 47282

Phone: (812) 352–3070

Johnson County Circuit Court

5 E Jefferson Street

P. O. Box 368

Franklin, IN 46131

Phone: (317) 346–4450

Johnson County Circuit Court - Juvenile & Family Division

Dickinson Juvenile Justice Center

1121 Hospital Rd

Franklin, IN 46131

Phone: (317) 346–4691

Knox County Circuit Court

111 N 7th Street

Vincennes, IN 47591

Phone: (812) 885–2521

Kosciusko County Circuit Court

121 N Lake Street

Warsaw, IN 46580

Phone: (574) 372–2331

La Porte County Circuit Court

813 Lincolnway

Room 105

La Porte, IN 46350

Phone: (219) 326–6808 (La Porte)

Phone: (219) 874–5611 ext. 2385 (Michigan City)

Lagrange County Circuit Court

105 N Detroit Street

LaGrange, IN 46761

Phone: (260) 499–6368

Lake County Circuit Court

Lake County Government Complex

2293 N Main Street

Crown Point, IN 46307

Phone: (219) 755–3460

Lawrence County Circuit Court

Lawrence County Courthouse

916 15th Street

Room 31

Bedford, IN 47421

Phone: (812) 275–7543

Madison County Circuit Court Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

Madison County Government Center

16 E 9th Street

Room 213

Anderson, IN 46016

Phone: (765) 641–9443

Marion County Circuit Court

City-County Building

200 E Washington Street

Suite W122

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone: (317) 327–4740

Marshall County Circuit Court

211 W Madison Street

Plymouth, IN 46563

Phone: (574) 936–8922

Martin County Circuit Court

Martin County Courthouse

111 Main Street

P. O. Box 120

Shoals, IN 47581

Phone: (812) 247–3651

Miami County Circuit Court

25 N Broadway

Room 208

Peru, IN 46970

Phone: (765) 472–3901

Monroe County Circuit Court

Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center

301 N College Avenue

Room 201

P. O. Box 547

Bloomington, IN 47402

Phone: (812) 349–2614

Montgomery County Circuit Court

100 E Main Street

Rm 203

Crawfordsville, IN 47933

Phone: (765) 364–6430

Morgan County Circuit Court

10 E Washington Street

Martinsville, IN 46151

Phone: (765) 342–1025

Newton County Circuit Court

201 N 3rd Street

P. O. Box 49

Kentland, IN 47951

Phone: 888–663–9866 ext. 1100

Noble County Circuit Court

101 N Orange Street

Albion, IN 46701

Phone: (260) 636–2736

Ohio County Circuit Court

413 Main Street

P. O. Box 185

Rising Sun, IN 47040

Phone: (812) 438–2610

Orange County Circuit Court

1 Court Street

Paoli, IN 47454

Phone: (812) 723–2649

Owen County Circuit Court

60 S Main Street

P. O. Box 146

Spencer, IN 47460

Phone: (812) 829–5015

Parke County Circuit Court

116 W High Street

Room 204

Rockville, IN 47872

Phone: (765) 569–5132

Perry County Circuit Court

2219 Payne Street

Tell City, IN 47586

Phone: (812) 547–3741

Pike County Circuit Court

P. O. Box 125

Petersburg, IN 47567

Phone: (812) 354–6025

Porter County Circuit Court

16 Lincolnway

Room 209

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone: (219) 465–3450

Posey County Circuit Court

Posey County Courthouse

300 Main Street

P. O. Box 606

Mount Vernon, IN 47620

Phone: (812) 838–1306

Pulaski County Circuit Court

Pulaski County Courthouse

112 E Main Street

Room 230

Winamac, IN 46996

Phone: (574) 946–3313

Putnam County Circuit Court

Putnam County Courthouse

One Courthouse Square

Room 23

P. O. Box 546

Greencastle, IN 46135

Phone: (765) 653–2648

Randolph County Circuit Court

100 S Main Street

P. O. Box 230

WincheStreeter, IN 47394

Phone: (765) 584–7207

Ripley County Circuit Court

Ripley County Courthouse

115 N Main Street

P. O. Box 177

Versailles, IN 47042

Phone: (812) 689–6115

Rush County Circuit Court

Rush County Courthouse

101 E 2nd Street

Room 209

Rushville, IN 46173

Phone: (765) 932–2086

Scott County Circuit Court

1 E McClain Ave

Room 212

Scottsburg, IN 47170

Phone: (812) 752–8430

Shelby County Circuit Court

407 S Harrison Street

Room 111

P. O. Box 198

Shelbyville, IN 46176

Phone: (317) 392–6320

Spencer County Circuit Court

200 Main Street

Room 8

P. O. Box 12

Rockport, IN 47635

Phone: (812) 649–6028

St. Joseph County Circuit Court 1

St. Joseph County Courthouse

101 S Main Street

South Bend, IN 46601

Phone: (574) 235–9635

St. Joseph County Circuit Court 2

County Services Building

219 Lincolnway W

Mishawaka, IN 46544

Phone: (574) 256–6201

Starke County Circuit Court

53 E Washington

P. O. Box 395

Knox, IN 46534

Phone: (574) 772–9128

Steuben County Circuit Court

55 S Public Square

Angola, IN 46703

Phone: (260) 668–1000 ext. 2240

Sullivan County Circuit Court

100 Courthouse Square

P. O. Box 370

Sullivan, IN 47882

Phone: (812) 268–4657

Switzerland County Circuit Court

Switzerland County Courthouse

212 W Main Street

Vevay, IN 47043

Phone: (812) 427–4415

Tippecanoe County Circuit Court

301 Main Street

P. O. Box 1665

Lafayette, IN 47902

Phone: (765) 423–9326

Tipton County Circuit Court

101 E Jefferson Street

Tipton, IN 46072

Phone: (765) 675–2795

Union County Circuit Court

Union County Courthouse

26 W Union Street

Liberty, IN 47353

Phone: (765) 458–6121

Vanderburgh County Circuit Court

Civic Center Complex Courts Building

825 Sycamore Street

Room 216

P. O. Box 3356

Evansville, IN 47732

Phone: (812) 435–5160

Vermillion County Circuit Court

Vermillion County Courthouse

255 S Main Street

P. O. Box 10

Newport, IN 47966

Phone: (765) 492–5350

Vigo County Circuit Court

33 S 3rd Street

Terre Haute, IN 47807

Phone: (812) 462–3211

Wabash County Circuit Court

69 W Hill Street

Wabash, IN 46992

Phone: (260) 563–0661

Warren County Circuit Court

125 N Monroe Street

Room 11

Williamsport, IN 47993

Phone: (765) 762–3510

Warrick County Circuit Court

One County Square

Room 200

Boonville, IN 47601

Phone: (812) 897–6160

Washington County Circuit Court

801 S Jackson Street

Room 102

Salem, IN 47167

Phone: (812) 883–5748

Wayne County Circuit Court

301 E Main Street

Richmond, IN 47374

Phone: (765) 973–9220

Wells County Circuit Court

102 W Market Street

Room 201

Bluffton, IN 46714

Phone: (260) 824–6479

White County Circuit Court

White County Government Center

110 N Main Street

P. O. Box 350

Monticello, IN 47960

Phone: (574) 583–7032

Whitley County Circuit Court

101 W Van Buren Street

Room 10

Columbia City, IN 46725

Phone: (260) 248–3102