Opinion ID: 1032305
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Location of the Court

Text: The Township urges that the decree ordering the Small Claims Court to remain in the City-County Building and directing the Township to provide reconfigured space and new furniture and equipment should be reversed. In support of its position the Township calls our attention to numerous facts and arguments favoring relocation. From these, we distill two relevant contentions: (1) the Mandate Order adversely affects governmental interests, namely: the interest of the Board in sharing joint authority with the local judge over the Court’s location, and (2) the Mandate Order is unsupportable because relocating the court to the Carson Center presents no clear and present danger of impairment to its operations. With respect to the first contention the Township’s argument can best be summarized as follows: the exercise of joint authority over the decision concerning the Court’s location was rendered a nullity when Judge Scott mandated that the court remain in its present location. According to the Township there is no “‘joint’ exercise of any authority” where a court can resort to mandate “any time the Legislative and Executive branches refuse to adopt the Judiciary’s position on a dispute over court facilities . . . .” Br. of Appellants at 43. 9 We first observe that it is certainly correct to say that the Township’s statutory responsibility to “provide a courtroom and an office for each judge in a convenient location within the township,” I.C. § 33-34-6-1,7 “carries with it a reasonable degree of discretion about the location of court offices.” In re Assignment of Courtrooms, 715 N.E.2d at 375. However, as the special judge correctly observed although “the Trustee . . . bear[s] the duty to provide for the small claims court, [the relevant statutes] do not grant the Trustee the unilateral power or authority to relocate the Court without consulting the presiding judge or involving the Board in the decision to relocate the Court.” App. at 39 (emphasis in original). As for resort to the extraordinary remedy of mandate, it is true that “there is no Indiana code provision granting the presiding judge the authority to veto or override any final decision to move a court.” Id. Nonetheless, “[i]f the separation of powers is to be maintained, it is essential that the judicial branch [of] government not be throttled by either the legislative or administrative branches, and that the courts be empowered to mandate what is reasonably necessary to discharge their duties.” McAfee v. State ex rel. Stodola, 284 N.E.2d 778, 782 (Ind. 1972). In essence, although the Township and the Small Claims Court judge exercise joint authority with respect to the location of the court facility, the question presented is how to resolve a dispute over the exercise of that joint authority. The special judge reached a common sense resolution: “unless and until Center Township engages in a collaborative decision-making process involving all three co-equal branches of government, Center Township should not be permitted to relocate the Court to the Carson Center.” App. at 46. The Township counters that its decision to move the court’s location was taken only after a public meeting in compliance with Indiana statutory authority, thus giving “a voice to all three co-equal branches of government.” Br. of Appellants at 38 (internal quotation marks omitted).8 Indeed, the record 7 More specifically the statute provides: The township trustee shall provide a courtroom and an office for each judge in a convenient location within the township that has: (1) adequate access; (2) sufficient parking facilities; (3) a separate and appropriate courtroom; (4) proper space and facilities for the bailiff, clerks, and other employees; and (5) enough room for files and supplies. I.C. § 33-34-6-1. Further, the Township is required to furnish equipment, supplies, and staff to the small claims court. See I.C. §§ 33-34-6-2 and -3. 8 Indiana Code section 33-34-1-7 provides: 10 reflects the Board conducted a public hearing concerning the location of the court and entered an order for the court’s relocation. But, as the special judge found and as the evidence of record supports: The Trustee’s process that ultimately lead to a Board order to relocate the Small Claims Court failed to adequately involve the Court and failed to adequately study and analyze the impact of the move. Indeed, Trustee Akers determined that he would move the Court out of the City-County Building before consulting with the Court or the Board. While the Trustee and Board permitted Judge Scott to present facts and concerns during various Board meetings, these concerns were dismissed without investigation by the Trustee or Board. Moreover, neither the Trustee nor the Board engaged in a meaningful dialogue or exchange of ideas with the presiding judge regarding the relocation of the Court. Ultimately the suggestions and efforts of the presiding judge were ignored. The Court made efforts to follow appropriate steps to analyze the appropriateness of the relocation of the Court and the concern for