Judge Superior Court - Civil Court 3
Superior Courts are mostly court of general jurisdiction, meaning they have authority to hear most case types. However in Allen county they are separated between Civil and Criminal cases. Superior Court Judges are elected at the general election on a separate ballot without party designation for a term of six years.
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Jennifer L DeGroote
In Indiana civil cases, where many defendants are self-represented and high-volume matters include debt collection and landlord-tenant disputes, what have you done to protect due process and meaningful access to justice?
What can the courts do to reduce foreclosures and evictions in Allen County?
What would you like the voters to know about the role of Civil Court including any courthouse or online services?
Current Employment
Judge, Allen Superior Court
Education
B.A., University of Michigan; J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law
Due process requires every person appearing in court has a fair opportunity to be heard. In high volume cases with self-represented litigants, this often means making sure a person understands what is happening, knows what is being decided, and has the ability to present evidence. As a judge, I must remain impartial and I cannot advocate for anyone, give one side an advantage, or provide legal advice. I can and do make sure proper notice has been given, rules and procedures are explained in everyday language, and people are given an opportunity to speak. It is also important to refer litigants to any resources available to assist in the preparation of their case and compliance with court orders.
My court is involved with Indiana's Mortgage Foreclosure Assistance Project (www.in.gov/courts/iocs/mortgage/). This is a no-cost settlement conference program joining borrowers and lenders with court-appointed facilitators in an effort to reach an agreement to avert foreclosure.
In 2022, I worked to create the Eviction Diversion Initiative in Allen Superior Court to help resolve, prevent and reduce evictions and improve housing stability. This program gives the landlord and tenant an opportunity to address the underlying problem before the case proceeds to a trial, and provides parties time, information, and referrals to resources such as legal aid, rental assistance, and social services in an effort to resolve housing problems .
The courthouse belongs to the public and Civil Court is where people come with disputes over housing, money, property, contracts, personal injury, or other important matters. The people of Allen County deserve a court system they can navigate and we have made important services available online - from researching cases through MyCase to accessing forms and e-filing resources. Our Civil Court is not just a place for lawyers and complicated lawsuits. It is the place where people can resolve everyday legal disputes.
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