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