From Ballotpedia | Local Courts |
|---|
|
| Trial courts and judges |
| Elections by state |
| Judicial selection by state |
| View courts by state: |
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This page is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
The Henry County Circuit Court resides in Indiana. Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...
This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]
| “ | Sec. 2. (a) All circuit courts have: (1) original and concurrent jurisdiction in all civil cases and in all criminal cases; |
” |
The 102 judges of the Indiana Circuit Courts are elected in partisan elections to six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to serve additional terms.[3]
Circuit court judges in Vanderburgh County are chosen in nonpartisan elections.[3]
Qualifications
Though some counties have imposed additional qualifications, a judge serving on these courts must at least be:[3]
Indiana is one of eight states that use partisan elections to initially select judges and then use retention elections to determine whether judges should remain on the bench. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
In the primary, most candidates for the trial courts compete in partisan elections.
Exceptions are:
Superior court judges in Lake and St. Joseph Counties stand for retention. All other trial court judges compete in contested races.[4][6]
If a vacancy occurs mid-term on the Indiana Supreme Court or Indiana Court of Appeals, the governor makes an appointment from names supplied by the judicial nominating commission. Vacancies on the circuit and superior courts are filled by direct governor appointment. Appointed judges must then run in the next general election, or the next general election after two years in office for supreme and appellate appointees.[6]
If there is no contest for a judicial seat in either the primary or general election, the candidates for that seat are not placed on the primary ballot. Candidates who are unopposed in the primary, however, must still appear on the primary ballot if there is any opposition for the seat by any other party.[7]



Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana
State courts:
Indiana Supreme Court • Indiana Court of Appeals • Indiana Tax Court • Indiana Superior Courts • Indiana Circuit Courts • Indiana City Courts • Indiana County Courts • Indiana Municipal Courts • Indiana Small Claims Courts • St. Joseph County Probate Court • Indiana Town Courts
State resources:
Courts in Indiana • Indiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Indiana
![]() |
State of Indiana Indianapolis (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
Categories: [Local courts outside coverage scope] [Indiana]