Franklin County, Indiana (Judicial)

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Ballotpedia provides comprehensive 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 county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.

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The people of Franklin County are served by a circuit court and a city court.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has jurisdiction in Franklin County. Appeals from the Southern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.

# Courts[edit]

Franklin County, Indiana

## Circuit Court[edit]

### Franklin County Circuit Court, Indiana

* Steven J. Cox
* Clay M. Kellerman[1]

# Elections[edit]

See also: Indiana judicial elections

Indiana is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Indiana, click here.

* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2025
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2024
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2023
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2022
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2021
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2020
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2019
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2018
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2017
* Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2016
* Indiana judicial elections, 2014
* Indiana judicial elections, 2012
* Indiana judicial elections, 2010

## Election rules[edit]

### Primary election[edit]

In the primary, most candidates for the trial courts compete in partisan elections.

Exceptions are:

* Circuit court candidates in Vanderburgh County run in nonpartisan elections.
* Superior court candidates in Allen and Vanderburgh counties compete in nonpartisan elections.
* Judges in Lake and St. Joseph counties are appointed by the Governor and stand for retention two years into service and at the end of subsequent terms.[2]
* When a superior court vacancy occurs in Marion County, candidates are reviewed by a 14-member judicial selection committee, which sends the names of three nominees to the governor. The governor must appoint one of the nominees as judge within 60 days. At the end of a judge's term on the court, the question of the judge's retention may be placed on the general election ballot. Before a judge can stand for retention, the judge must appear before the committee to allow the committee to issue a recommendation to voters regarding the judge's suitability to continue to hold office.[3]

### General election[edit]

Superior court judges in Lake and St. Joseph Counties stand for retention. All other trial court judges compete in contested races.[2][4]

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.[4]

### Unopposed candidates[edit]

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.[5]

## See also[edit]

* Indiana counties
* Courts in Indiana
* Indiana judicial elections, 2012 - Circuit Courts

## External links[edit]

* Indiana Courts Website, "Franklin County Courts and Clerk," accessed April 18, 2014

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Indiana Courts Website, "Franklin County Courts and Clerk," accessed April 11, 2014
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 American Judicature Society, "Judicial Selection in the States: Indiana," accessed August 29, 2017
3. ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "House Bill 1036," accessed January 5, 2018
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Indiana," archived October 2, 2014
5. ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "Indiana Code, Title 3, Article 10, Chapter 1, Section 5(a)," accessed March 21, 2014

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Indiana courts

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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 Superior Courts • Indiana Circuit Courts • Indiana City Courts • Indiana County Courts • Indiana Municipal Courts • Indiana Small Claims Courts • St. Joseph County Probate Court • Indiana Tax Court • Indiana Town Courts

State resources:

Courts in Indiana • Indiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Indiana