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Marshall County judge seeks Indiana Supreme Court cash award to fund local mediation services
Summary
A Marshall County Superior Court 1 judge told commissioners he applied Oct. 24 to the Indiana Supreme Court for a one-time cash allocation (requested $25,000) to start an alternative dispute resolution program that would add $20 to certain family-law and juvenile filings to fund sliding-scale mediation and guardian ad litem services.
A judge for Marshall Superior Court 1 told commissioners Nov. 3 he has applied to the Indiana Supreme Court for a one-time cash allocation to create an alternative dispute resolution program he says would expand access to mediation and guardian ad litem services for people of modest means.
The judge said he filed the application Oct. 24 and asked the board to be aware that, if approved by the Indiana Supreme Court, the enabling statute would add $20 to certain filings—divorce, dissolution, separation or juvenile paternity cases—unless a party has a verified fee waiver. “I requested $25,000,” the judge said. He emphasized the fund would be administered by Marshall Superior Court 1 and not revert to the general fund.
Under the plan the court would refer cases it deems suitable for ADR to mediators who have agreed to provide reduced rates (the judge said mediators had agreed to about $100 an hour under the program, versus typical rates of $350–$500). The program would operate on a sliding scale so that litigants could pay nothing or modest hourly fees based on ability to pay, with the ADR fund covering the remainder.
The judge offered to collect the program data required by state statute—how many cases mediated and the resulting success rate—and report annually as required. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about administration, fee waivers and how guardian ad litem services would be managed; the judge said Superior Court 1 would administer the fund in coordination with Circuit Court.
Commissioners did not take formal action on the application itself but thanked the judge for the information and requested notice when the Indiana Supreme Court makes a decision on the request.
