Randolph County judges propose shared court administrator with neighboring counties

Judge Dowling spoke to the commissioners about operational gaps in court administration and urged the county to consider joining a district plan with other small counties to fund a shared court administrator. "This county is small, and I know that you really can't afford a court administrator…if each county kicked in $30,000 you could get somebody really good who then would be able to travel between the 3 counties," he said.

He described benefits such an administrator could provide: ensuring state plans are filed with the Indiana Supreme Court, preparing grant applications, improving Odyssey case management practices and drafting security and language‑access plans. He said he had discussed the idea with judges in Blackford and Henry counties and that Delaware County’s court administrator had already assisted Randolph County with staff training.

Commissioners asked practical questions — how many counties one person could serve, which county would provide benefits, and whether a district plan might follow the county’s existing interlocal agreements template used for shared engineers. Judge Dowling advised limiting the role to support three counties, noting travel needs and the complexity of benefits administration. Commissioners agreed the idea warranted follow‑up with the other judges and county councils and discussed budgeting timing to aim for a January hire if approved.

No formal motion to join a district plan was made at the meeting; instead the commissioners requested further meetings and for Judge Dowling to report back on discussions with neighboring counties, and they said council approval would be required before any hiring action.