Court Opinion

ID: 9527394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:30:17.650508+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:46.723199
License: Public Domain

DISSENTING OPINION
DeBruler, J.
— As can be seen from the statute quoted in the majority opinion, “no person other than a judge of the county or superior courts may serve as a special judge if requested from a county court.” Ind. R.Tr. P. 79(11) provides that a special judge in a county court “shall be selected from judges of courts having the same or similar jurisdiction or from members of the bar.” The statute excludes lawyers; the rule sanctions sitting judges from other counties. There is therefore an incompatibility between the Rules of the Court and the procedural statute, and in such instances it is the rule of Court which will prevail. Neeley v. State, (1974) 261 Ind. 434, 305 N.E.2d 434; State v. Bridenhager, (1972) 257 Ind. 699, 279 N.E.2d 794. I am certainly willing to consider amending our rule to conform to the legislative proscriptions in the statute, *29but until such an amendment is made, I would not require respondent to limit his panels as required by the statute.
Prentice, J., concurs.
NOTE — Reported at 383 N.E.2d 284.