Superior Court 1

Kathleen B. Lang, Judge (ext. 7710)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Address: 300 Washington Street
Michigan City, Indiana 46360

Phone: (219) 874-5611
Fax: (219) 873-3021

STAFF
Court Reporter:
Patricia Hodges (ext. 7712) e-mail: phodges@laportecounty.org
Records all court proceedings, prepares transcripts, jury instructions

Court Administrator:
Marilyn Steinhiser (ext. 7710) e-mail: msteinhiser@laportecounty.org
Maintains court calendar, receives and distributes filings/mail

Paralegal/Bailiff:
Jeanne Thode (ext. 7711) e-mail: jthode@laportecounty.org
Schedules criminal call, handles all criminal paperwork, jury matters, and assists with probate matters

Courthouse hours: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM; 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday; night court on Mondays

Court's schedule is as follows:
Monday: Jury trials.
If no jury trial is scheduled, any type of case can be scheduled and heard.
4:00 PM - Night court - uncontested domestic matters, protective orders, matters that can be handled in an abbreviated summary fashion
Tuesday: Jury trials.
If no jury trial is scheduled, any type of case can be scheduled and heard.
Wednesday: If no jury trial is scheduled, any type of case can be scheduled and heard 8:30 - noon
Thursday: Criminal call 8:30 - noon;
Miscellaneous scheduled hearings in the afternoon
Friday: Miscellaneous scheduled hearings ALL DAY

• COURT PROCEDURES
  a. The Court retains the original of all filings.
  
  b. The Court retains the original and one copy of any Orders. Envelopes must be provided for return copies and for all service copies unless submitting party is effecting service.
  
  c. Proposed Orders requested by the Court should be submitted to the Court by filing a hard copy and by e-mail to msteinhiser@laportecounty.org.
  
  d. Briefs and Memorandums of Law should be submitted to the Court by filing a hard copy and by e-mail to msteinhiser@laportecounty.org.
  
  e. If the Judge's signature is required on any submission, please flag all pages requiring a signature. (except the ccs)
  
  f. Service by Sheriff requires 3 additional copies of everything to be served.
  
  g. If a hearing is required or requested, contact the Court for available dates and times and then coordinate the hearing with opposing counsel.
  
  h. The Court will accept submission by fax only in extreme emergency. All faxed submissions must be followed up with the necessary hard copies and envelope(s) to return or forward copies. Hard copies should be mailed the same day as the fax is sent.
  
  i. Participation in any court proceeding may be done telephonically only with prior approval by the Court.
  
  
  j. If a court filing schedules or cancels a hearing date, the CCS should reflect that addition or deletion (i.e., a Final Decree that negates a final hearing date; a Settlement Agreement, etc.)
   
  k. All exhibits must be shown to opposing counsel/party prior to the start of a hearing.  If more than ten (10) exhibits are to be submitted in any hearing/trial, an Exhibit List is to be filed with the court and opposing counsel prior to the hearing.
  
  
• CRIMINAL
  Criminal cases are heard on Thursday mornings from 8:30 AM until 12:00 PM.
  
  1. INITIAL HEARINGS for defendants IN CUSTODY will be held on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m., and Fridays at 11:00 a.m., by way of VIDEO CONFERENCING.
  
  2. INITIAL HEARINGS for defendants NOT IN CUSTODY will take place on Thursdays during the regularly scheduled Criminal Call.          
  
  3. To obtain the date for an initial hearing for an IN CUSTODY defendant, contact the Bailiff (Jeanne at extension 7711).
  
  a. All requests for adding/continuing a case for Thursday morning criminal call should be submitted by minute sheet no later than noon (12:00 PM) on the preceding Tuesday. The minute sheet must reflect that opposing counsel has been contacted and does not object to the case being continued. If an addition/continuance is requested after noon on Tuesday, a Motion must be filed and approved by the Court. A proposed form of order must indicate that opposing counsel has been contacted and does not object.
  
  b. Faxed Filings: Faxed requests will only be accepted in extreme emergency. If a filing is accepted by fax, a hard copy must be submitted within 24 hours. The minute sheet should reflect that the documents were originally submitted by fax.
  
  c. Attorney Mailboxes: In order to expedite criminal call proceedings, Attorneys are encouraged to check for pertinent filings in their courthouse mailbox prior to Criminal Call.
  
  d. Bond Reduction Requests must be made in open court or by Motion. If a written Motion is filed, a copy of the Motion must be included for the Probation Department. A minimum of 2 weeks is required for completion of the investigation.
  
  e. Transport Orders: It is the responsibility of the Defendant's attorney to provide Transport Orders, if needed.
  
  f. For questions on criminal matters, including scheduling, contact Jeanne Thode at ext. 7711 or by email at jthode@laportecounty.org.
  
  g. Bond reductions will be only considered by the Court when presented in open court or by written motion. Typically, a Bond Investigation will be completed prior to a reduction being granted.
  
  h. Only the Court can waive the appearance of a defendant for a scheduled court hearing.
  
  
• FAMILY LAW
  a. A Pre-Trial Statement of Facts & Issues must be filed with the Court and opposing counsel/party one week prior to final dissolution of marriage hearings. This form must be filled out completely with supporting documents attached.
  
  b. If the Judge's signature is required on any submission, please flag all pages requiring a signature.(except the ccs)
  
  c. For any hearing involving child support, a Child Support Obligation Worksheet must be filed with the Court. The Worksheet must be filled out completely and signed by parties. Electronically produced Worksheets are preferred.
  
  d. If an agreement, a Dissolution Decree, or any other Order cancels or schedules a hearing date, it should be noted on the CCS upon filing.
  
  Click here for list of Custody Evaluators.
  Click here for the Pre-trial Statement of facts & issues form in Adobe Reader format; Microsoft Word format; or Corel WordPerfect format.
  
  
• PROBATE
  a. Please submit three copies of Inheritance Tax filings for the Court.

 

• Domestic:

  The following types of hearings will generally be heard by the Magistrate, Greta Friedman.

  Parties should still set hearing dates through Court No. 1 at extension 7710.

  Modifications
  Rules to Show Cause
  Provisional Orders
  Pro se Final Dissolutions
  Protective Orders

  Any other matters as approved by the Judge

• Misc:

The following are to be submitted to the Court electronically as well as by hard copy:

Motions for Summary Judgment
Motions to Dismiss
Findings of Fact
Conclusions of Law

If a secondary hearing becomes primary, it is expected that it will take place. If the parties wish to continue or vacate it, a Motion to continue/vacate will be required. A proposed Order should be submitted with the Motion.

TRANSCRIPTS
To request a transcript, you must contact Patricia Hodges, Official Court Reporter, at 219.874.5611 x7712. The following information is needed: person's name [and/or caption], cause number, date of hearing requested; would also need a contact phone number. Cost is $3.50 per page.

JURY TRIAL PREPARATIONS

• CRIMINAL TRIALS
  Proposed final jury instructions are due no later than ten days before the jury trial. They should be submitted by e-mail to: phodges@laportecounty.org, or on 3.5 disk compatible with Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect Version 10 or less. Instructions [other than pattern] submitted to the Court by the parties, shall have copies of any law which counsel is relying upon, attached to the proposed instruction, with appropriate section highlighted. Each side is initially limited to ten (10) proposed final instructions.
  
• CIVIL TRIALS
  Proposed preliminary and final instructions are due on/or before the final Pre-trial Conference date. Also to be included are: Issues Instruction that concisely frames the issues before the Court, as agreed upon by the parties, and each party's proposed Verdict Form or Forms. Parties are to provide the Court with an additional copy of instructions which should be submitted either by e-mail to: phodges@laportecounty.org, or on 3.5 disk compatible with Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect Version 10 or less. Instructions [other than pattern] submitted to the Court by the parties, shall have copies of any law which counsel is relying upon, attached to the proposed instruction, with appropriate section highlighted. Each side is initially limited to ten (10) proposed final instructions.
  
  Click here for general information regarding jury service.