VOTE411 Voter Guide

Effective January 2021 there will be seven Superior Courts in Tippecanoe County. The seventh court was approved by the General Assembly in 2019 and the first election for the judge is the 2020 General Election. Below describes the current activity of six of the courts. Once Superior Court 7 is established the responsibilities of all the courts may be altered to cover the many cases in the county due to increased population and the opioid crisis.Superior Court 1 is a court of general civil and criminal jurisdiction. The felony Forensic Diversion Court is also handled through Superior Court 1Superior Court 2 is one of 8 courts of record in Tippecanoe County. Along with Circuit Court and Superior Court, it hears major criminal cases (murders, Class A, B, C and certain Class D felonies), dissolutions and plenary civil cases. Superior Court 3 is designated as the Juvenile Court for Tippecanoe County. This court handles cases related to: Juvenile Delinquency, CHINS (Children in Need of Services), Termination of Parental Rights, Child Support, Paternity, Guardianships. In addition, Superior Court 3 oversees the Juvenile Magistrate/IV-D Court, the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program, Juvenile Probation, and other related juvenile services. Superior Court 4 handles civil cases including evictions (landlord-tenant cases) and small claims and criminal cases to include misdemeanor, Level 6 felony cases and D felony cases.Superior Court 5 is a trial court of general jurisdiction, primarily handling misdemeanor and Class D felony criminal cases but also handles civil cases as well. Some criminal cases include criminal recklessness, cruelty to animals, disorderly conduct, domestic violence cases (battery, confinement, etc.), exploitation of endangered adults, public intoxication and more.Tippecanoe Superior Court 6 has jurisdiction over traffic cases including traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and Class D felonies. This would include traffic violations, operating while intoxicated, and other criminal cases involving the use of a motor vehicle including driving while suspended. Superior Court 6 also handles civil cases involving claims under $10,000.