Opinion ID: 2211910
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Special Judge Selection Procedure.

Text: Before proceeding to the jurisdictional question in this case, we shall speak briefly to the striking procedure used to select respondent Arthur as special judge in Cause Number 80 J 20, the CHINS case. Without question, neither Mrs. McCormack nor her attorneys were informed that a panel had been named or that any striking had occurred or would occur. The Pike Circuit Court's entry for this striking reads as follows: Petition filed alleging child in need of services and the Court examines said petition and now disqualifies himself herein. The Court now names a panel of Honorable James R. Arthur, Judge of the Daviess Circuit Court; Honorable Walter Palmer, Judge of the Gibson Circuit Court and Honorable Donald Hendrickson, Judge of the Warrick Circuit Court from which the parties are to strike as provided by law. Comes now the parties by their respective attorneys and strike the Honorable James R. Arthur, Judge of the Daviess Circuit Court remains unstricken who is appointed Special Judge herein. Comes now Honorable James R. Arthur, Judge of the Daviess Circuit Court takes the oath, qualifies and assumes jurisdiction herein. Transcript of June 6, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 2. This entry is, at best, a prime example of appalling record keeping, but, more likely, is further evidence of respondents' bad faith. As noted above, respondent McGaughey's affidavit to these Courts states that he and the Pike Circuit Court Clerk accomplished the striking. Ind. Code § 31-6-7-1 (Burns 1979 Supp.) specifically states that the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure shall apply to procedural matters not covered by the Juvenile Code. Thus, the striking here could have been accomplished under Trial Rule 79(4). That rule provides: (4) If neither method provided for by subdivisions (2) or (3) for the selection of a special judge be adopted, then the presiding judge, or if there be no such judge, the regular judge of the court, shall submit a list of three (3) persons from which, by striking, an appointee may be selected. In an adversary proceeding each party may strike one (1) name and in an ex parte proceeding said party shall be entitled to strike one (1) name from such list. The moving party shall strike first. From the name or names remaining the judge submitting such list shall select and appoint the special judge. In cases other than those enumerated in subdivision (1) where a judge on his own motion disqualifies himself, the plaintiff side shall strike first. If the special judge selected hereunder qualifies then subsequently becomes disqualified by reason other then the filing of a motion for change from the judge, or disqualifies himself, such fact shall be certified to the Supreme Court which thereupon shall appoint a special judge. The very nature of a CHINS proceeding would usually presuppose a situation where the operation of Trial Rule 79(4) would not be necessary; that is, the typical CHINS case might only infrequently involve an adversary proceeding. However, in those few instances where an adversary relationship is present and such a procedure is necessary, we specifically hold that the custodial parent-in this case, Mrs. McCormack-is a party for the purpose of striking. Thus, in a case such as this, in terms of the adversary relationship contemplated by Trial Rule 79(4), for purposes of striking to obtain a special judge, the custodial parent, if available, stands in the shoes of the defendant, while the prosecutor or county attorney stands in the shoes of the plaintiff. As explained above, in this case, neither Mrs. McCormack nor her counsel participated in the striking, and the court's entry states only that the parties struck the names. On the other hand, however, at the June 6 CHINS hearing, the record discloses that respondents then treated the mother as a party. Indeed, when the hearing opened, respondent Arthur asked respondent Gray if he wished to be heard on his CHINS petition. Gray did, in fact, make an opening statement. Thereafter, the mother's counsel spoke. Only then did respondent McGaughey ask to be heard in addition to the parties. Further, as noted above, when the June 6 hearing was concluded, Arthur ruled that both parties were restrained from removing Michelle. Transcript of June 6, 1980 CHINS Hearing at 2-5, 9.