Opinion ID: 4503615
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Trial court judges should develop an adequate

Text: record to ensure the proper outcome. Had the trial court here clearly indicated that the acts resulting in the issuance of the original order, coupled with S.H.’s testimony, were significant enough to justify its extension, I suspect our Court would have reached a different outcome. But the majority’s decision today, despite our deferential standard of review, now calls for a much more deliberate approach by a trial court in extending a protection order. Therefore, courts should develop an adequate record and factual basis for issuing and/or extending a protection order. See Protection Order Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana, Protection Order Deskbook ch. 4, at 7–8 (rev. ed. 2015), available at https://www.in.gov/judiciary/iocs/files/centerbb-po-deskbook.pdf.3 See also id. ch. 9, at 3 (discussing extensions of protection orders).4 This record should include testimony from the parties and witnesses along with any other evidence sufficient to allow a reviewing court to determine that a petitioner made a prima facie case satisfying the Act’s requirements. And in the context of an extension, the trial court’s findings should indicate why a particular fact was significant 3I cite this publicly available resource not as binding authority but rather for its recommended best practices. 4When filing for an extension of a protection order, “due process requires the court to conduct a hearing, providing notice to the Respondent and an opportunity for the Respondent to object to the extension.” Protection Order Deskbook ch. 9, at 2. If the petitioner is unable to timely file for an extension, or if service of process can’t be perfected before the original order expires, a new petition for a protective order should be filed, ex parte. Id. ch. 9, at 2–3. Indiana Supreme Court | Case No. 19S-PO-118 | January 31, 2020 Page 4 of 5 to the trial court, especially if other facts seem to weigh against its decision. Id. These and other best practices will determine the effectiveness of the Act’s express goal of ensuring the “protection and safety of all victims of domestic or family violence” and preventing such violence in the future. See I.C. § 34-26-5-1 (2019).