The bill initially named only the new courts that would open, and had moved through the legislative session without adding language to abolish courts. It wasn’t until the bill reached the Senate late last week that courts targeted for closure were named, the Indiana Lawyer reported Wednesday. The decision came from looking at the state’s weighted caseload management system, which listed the counties most in need of new courts.

In the senate, the following courts were chosen to close from 2026 to 2028: Carroll Superior Court, Blackford Superior Court, Gibson Superior Court, Greene Superior Court, Jennings Superior Court, Newton Superior Court, Owen Circuit Court 2, Pulaski Superior Court, Rush Superior Court, and Scott Superior Court. The senate version adds two judicial officers in Hamilton County, five full-time magistrates in Elkhart County, one magistrate in Vigo County and Lawrence County juvenile Court.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle reports this provision is estimated to save the state approximately $748,885 in Fiscal Year 2027 and up to $2.75 million in Fiscal Year 2032, according to a fiscal analysis.

In a phone call with PulaskiPost Friday (April 11), State Sen. Ed Charbonneau affirmed that the “way the bill is written now” closing Pulaski’s superior court “could happen.” He added that he is working to prevent it. “I’m making the case that Pulaski County needs to keep the court.”

Upon hearing the surprising news last week, Pulaski County Superior Court Judge Crystal Kocher wrote on social media that “House Bill 1144 seeks to eliminate Pulaski Superior Court at the end of my term in 2030.” She added that 12 other courts, many of them small and rural like Pulaski County, are on the chopping block in order to provide additional judicial officers in Hamilton County.

The judge also noted such a move would not save Pulaski County money, as the number of cases that must be heard will remain. “It will, however, eliminate the substance use, mental health and family treatment programs we’ve established,” she said.

Last week the digest of HB1144 referenced that it would “abolish certain judgeships,” and also that it would add “two superior courts to Hamilton County.” 

The bill is authored by Rep. Chris Jeter (R-88) whose district includes portions of Hamilton, Hancock, Madison and Marion counties in central Indiana. It is co-authored by Rep. Tonya Pfaff, (D-43) whose district includes portions of Vigo County), Rep. Timothy Wesco, (R-21) whose includes portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, and Rep. Danny Lopez (R-39) whose includes a portion of Hamilton County).

PulaskiPost also issued a request for comment Friday to Pulaski County’s two statehouse representatives, Kendell Culp and Jack Jordan.

Culp issued the following statement Tuesday (April 15). "House Bill 1144 was authored to address the growing shortage of judicial officers in certain areas of the state. I am meeting with fellow legislators to reach a solution for rural courts like the Pulaski County Superior Court, which was slated to be closed. Overall, the goal is to ensure we are properly serving our communities well and using our resources efficiently."

No response has yet been issued from Jordan.

When asked if the motivation for closing the smaller counties’ courts was a state legislature cost-saving measure, Charbonneau responded that it was likely “part of it,” but also included other factors such as weighted caseload studies of the state’s court system.

Judge Kocher noted that closing the superior court “will financially harm our county, as cases will take longer to get into court, they will take longer to resolve, and simply put, the resources will not be there to treat substance and mental health. We cannot let our small county be harmed when larger counties are more equipped to absorb the additional cases with multiple judges already in place.”

County clerk JoLynn Behny, also responded on social media that in her position “I’ve witnessed first-hand what Judge Kocher, her court, her staff and her programs have brought to our community. Losing our Superior Court will be a huge detriment to our community.”

Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker also weighed in, again on social media, saying, “Please know circuit court will not be able to do what we do to help and rehabilitate people who need it the most; nor will we be able to do all the truancy and juvenile programs we do, if this goes through.”

The 2025 session of the General Assembly must, by law, conclude its work by April 29.

Residents are being asked to contact their state representatives quickly, as the bill is advancing with speed, in an effort to save the local court.

• Ed Charbonneau: Phone: 800-382-9467 or 317-232-9400
• Kendell Culp: email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or call 317-232-9819
• Jack Jordan: email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or call 317-232-9772