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