Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1533
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 3-11-2-10.1; IC 33-33-49-35.
Synopsis: Marion County judges. Establishes a procedure to remove
a judge appointed to the Marion superior court by public question.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Ireland, Bascom
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code.
2025 IN 1533—LS 6824/DI 149 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1533
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
courts and court officers.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 3-11-2-10.1, AS ADDED BY P.L.245-2017,
2 SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10.1. (a) This section applies only to a public
4 question concerning:
5 (1) the retention in office; or
6 (2) the removal from office;
7 of a judge of the Marion superior court under IC 33-33-49.
8 (b) The question of the retention or removal of the judge at the
9 general election shall be placed on the ballot at the same row or column
10 level of the ballot at which the question of other judges is placed on the
11 ballot but in a column or row in which independent candidates are
12 placed on the ballot.
13 (c) If the question of the retention of more than one (1) judge is
14 placed on a ballot, the judges shall be placed on the ballot in
15 alphabetical order according to surname.
16 (d) The question of retention of any judge to be placed on the
17 ballot shall appear first and the question of removal of any judge
2025 IN 1533—LS 6824/DI 149 2
1 shall be placed after all questions of retention. If the question of the
2 removal of more than one (1) judge is placed on a ballot, the judges
3 shall be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order according to
4 surname.
5 SECTION 2. IC 33-33-49-35 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
6 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
7 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 35. (a) This section applies only
8 to a public question concerning the removal from office of a judge
9 of the Marion superior court appointed under this chapter.
10 (b) The removal of a sitting judge of the court may be approved
11 by the electorate of Marion County at a general election in
12 accordance with this section.
13 (c) The Marion County election board shall place the public
14 question on the ballot under this section following the filing of a
15 petition with the circuit court clerk that:
16 (1) complies with the requirements of IC 3-10-9;
17 (2) is signed by at least the number of registered voters in
18 Marion County required under IC 3-8-6-3 to place a
19 candidate on the ballot; and
20 (3) requests that the public question concerning the removal
21 of the specific judge be placed on the ballot.
22 (d) A public question under this section shall be placed on the
23 ballot in accordance with IC 3-10-9 and must be certified in
24 accordance with IC 3-10-9-3.
25 (e) The question of the judge's removal shall be placed on the
26 general election ballot in the form prescribed by IC 3-11-2 and
27 must state:
28 "Shall Judge (insert here the name of the judge) be removed
29 from office?".
30 (f) If a majority of the ballots cast by the electors voting on the
31 question is "No", the judge whose name appears on the question
32 shall continue in office. If a majority of the ballots cast by the
33 electors voting on the question is "Yes", the following apply:
34 (1) The office of the removed judge becomes vacant on
35 January 1 following the general election.
36 (2) The vacancy shall be filled in accordance with this chapter.
2025 IN 1533—LS 6824/DI 149