How Do Indiana City Courts Work?

Indiana City Courts are established under Indiana Code § 33–35. City Courts are limited jurisdiction trial courts that hear matters related to city ordinances. The jurisdiction of City Courts is typically dependent on the size of the city. Generally, Indiana City Courts have jurisdiction over the following types of cases:

• Cases involving violations of the city’s ordinances
• Misdemeanor cases and cases involving traffic infractions
• Civil cases where the amount in controversy is not more than $500 (City Courts have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in these types of cases)
• In cases where the City Court is in a third-class city that is not a county seat, the court shares concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in civil matters where the amount in controversy is not more than $3,000 (in the state of Indiana, third-class cities refer to cities that have a population of less than 35,000)
• City Courts in third-class cities have original jurisdiction in civil cases where the principal defendant lives in another city that has its own City Court.
• City Courts in cities that have a population of more than 10,500, but less than 11,000, share concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in civil matters where the amount in controversy is not more than $1,500

Note that, in cases where a City Court has concurrent jurisdiction with a Circuit Court, the City Court does not have jurisdiction over the following types of actions:

• Libel and slander actions
• Actions in equity
• Foreclosure of a mortgage on real estates, where the title to real estate is in issue
• Actions involving the estate of a deceased person, the appointment of guardians, and all related matters

Cities that do not have City Courts may decide to enter an interlocal agreement with a city that has established its court and is located in the same judicial circuit, to hear ordinance violations that would have fallen under its jurisdiction.

There are currently more than 45 City Courts in the Indiana court system. These courts are headed by a judge, who is elected by the city in a partisan election. Only individuals that are residents of a city at the time of the election are eligible to become City Court judges. These individuals must also be licensed to practice Indiana state law. However, individuals elected before July 1, 2015, are not required to be lawyers and may continue to serve successive terms if re-elected. City Court judges serve four-year terms, and an elected judge can run for re-election as many times as possible before the age of 75. In situations where the judge is temporarily absent or unable to act, the judge has the authority to appoint a special judge. This special judge must be a reputable practicing attorney, and the special judge shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of a City Court judge.

Trials in Indiana City Courts are typically heard without a jury. However, the defendant has the right to demand a trial by jury. City Courts are not courts of record, so appeals from this court go to either an Indiana Circuit Court, Superior Court, or Probate Court, where they are decided afresh. The timeframe for a court case heard in a City Court varies from city to city. However, once a decision is issued, parties that wish to appeal must do so within 30 days.

Court records from cases heard in Indiana City Courts can be obtained online via the Indiana judicial system’s case search website, or in person. Parties that wish to utilize the online method of obtaining these records will have to provide either the case number of the required case or the names of the parties involved. This includes the names of the litigants or the names of the attorneys involved if any. Obtaining court records in person requires contacting the office of the Court Clerk at the court where the case was heard.

Contact information for Indiana City Courts can be gotten below:

Anderson City Court
Police and City Court Building
1034 Main Street
Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: (765) 648–6075

Attica City Court
305 E Main St Street
Attica, IN 47918
Phone: (765) 762–2467

Batesville City Court
Memorial Building
132 S Main Street
Batesville, IN 47006
Phone: (812) 933–6102

Beech Grove City Court
Beech Grove City Hall
802 Main Street
2nd Floor
Beech Grove, IN 46107
Phone: (317) 803–9155

Bicknell City Court
119 E 2nd Street
Bicknell, IN 47512
Phone: (812) 735–4636

Bluffton City Court
204 E Market Street
Bluffton, IN 46714
Phone: (260) 824–3392

Butler City Court
217 S Broadway
Butler, IN 46721
Phone: (260) 868–2441

Carmel City Court
One Civic Square
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: (317) 571–2440

Clinton City Court
259 Vine Street
Clinton, IN 47842
Phone: (765) 832–9444

Crown Point City Court
223 S Main Street
P.O. Box 594
Crown Point, IN 46308
Phone: (219) 662–3243

Delphi City Court
201 S Union Street
Delphi, IN 46923
Phone: (765) 564–6946

East Chicago City Court
2301 E Columbus Dr
East Chicago, IN 46312
Phone: (219) 391–8491

Elkhart City Court
229 S 2nd Street
Elkhart, IN 46516
Phone: (574) 522–5272

Elwood City Court
1505 S B Street
Elwood, IN 46036
Phone: (765) 552–2655

Fishers City Court
1 Municipal Drive
Fishers, IN 46038
Phone: (317) 595–3130

Frankfort City Court
301 E Clinton Street
Frankfort, IN 46041
Phone: (765) 654–5715

Franklin City Court
1 Caisson Dr
Franklin, IN 46131
Phone: (317) 736–3619

Gary City Court—Criminal Division
City of Gary Public Safety Facility
555 Polk Street
Gary, IN 46402
Phone: (219) 881–1263

Gary City Court—Civil Division
City Hall
401 Broadway
Gary, IN 46402
Phone: (219) 881–1354

Gas City City Court
211 E Main Street
Gas City, IN 46933
Phone: (765) 677–3081

Goshen City Court
111 E Jefferson Street
Rm 2, Goshen, IN 46528
Phone: (574) 533–9365

Greenwood City Court
186 Surina Way
Greenwood, IN 46143
Phone: (317) 882–5129

Hammond City Court
City Hall
5925 Calumet Ave
Hammond, IN 46320
Phone: (219) 853–6346

Hobart City Court
705 E 4th Street
Suite C
Hobart, IN 46342
Phone: (219) 942–8218

Knox City Court
101 W Washington Street
Knox, IN 46534
Phone: (574) 772–3766

Lake Station City Court
1969 Central Avenue
Lake Station, IN 46405
Phone: (219) 962–2145

Lawrenceburg City Court
349 Walnut Street
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Phone: (812) 532–3545

Marion City Court
301 S Branson Street
Marion, IN 46952
Phone: (765) 668–4425

Martinsville City Court
59 S Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 1415
Martinsville, IN 46151
Phone: (765) 342–1259

Muncie City Court
City Hall
300 N High Street
Muncie, IN 47305
Phone: (765) 747–4703

Nappanee City Court
300 W Lincoln Street
P.O. Box 29
Nappanee, IN 46550
Phone: (574) 773–2112 ext. 2113

New Castle City Court
227 N Main Street
New Castle, IN 47362
Phone: (765) 521–6802

New Haven City Court
815 Lincoln Hwy E
New Haven, IN 46774
Phone: (260) 748–7878

Noblesville City Court
135 S 9th Street
Noblesville, IN 46060
Phone: (317) 776–6344

Peru City Court
35 S Broadway
Peru, IN 46970
Phone: (765) 473–2153

Portland City Court
1616 N Franklin Street
Portland, IN 47371
Phone: (260) 726–3358

Terre Haute City Court
City Hall
17 Harding Avenue
Rm 102
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: (812) 232–3375

Tipton City Court
225 E Jefferson Street
Tipton, IN 46072
Phone: (765) 675–7878

Union City Court
219 S Howard Street
Union City, IN 47390
Phone: (765) 964–5968

Wabash City Court
23 W Market Street
Wabash, IN 46992
Phone: (260) 563–4946

West Lafayette City Court
222 N Chauncey Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: (765) 775–5155

Whiting City Court
1443 119th Street
Whiting, IN 46394
Phone: (219) 659–4688

Winchester City Court
113 E Washington Street
P.O. Box 408
Winchester, IN 47394
Phone: (765) 584–1056