Hamilton County commissioners voted to adopt Ordinance 11-25-2025-a, creating a Hamilton County Public Defender Board that the county said will draft a comprehensive plan for public defender services and could position the county to seek reimbursement for some costs. County counsel presented the ordinance and said many other Indiana counties have similar boards.

Andrew O'Church, who summarized the ordinance and the J-RAC committee recommendation, said the board would “come up with a comprehensive plan” and that, if adopted, “this could provide a system moving forward for public defender services and could potentially allow us to apply for reimbursement of some of those costs.” Commissioners moved to waive rules, adopt on first reading and then adopt the ordinance; the motion passed by voice vote.

County counsel clarified that adopting the ordinance does not obligate immediate changes to existing public defender contracts and that the board can be disbanded or actions withdrawn later; staff said adoption is intended to position Hamilton County for future options and compliance with statute. The ordinance text was identified in the meeting as ordinance number 11-25-2025-a and will be available in the county records for review.

The board adopted the ordinance and did not take further substantive action on implementation at this meeting; commissioners said judges and attorneys on the J-RAC board would be involved in drafting next steps. The ordinance adoption is the most recent procedural step; staff will return with details if the board moves to create or fund operations of the new board.