The jury trial scheduled for February 10th, 2025 has been continued and will not take place.
History
Indiana's Eighty-Sixth (86th) Judicial Circuit, consisting of Jennings County, was created by statute in 1935, after sharing a Circuit with Scott County (I.C.33-33-40-1). The Jennings Circuit Court was established by Article 7, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana of 1851 which prescribes a six(6) year term of office without limitations, and requires the Judge to be a resident of Jennings County and admitted to the practice of law in the State of Indiana. The Jennings Circuit Court has original jurisdiction to preside over all civil and criminal cases. (I.C.33-28-1-2) The Jennings Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction in Jennings County over all probate/estate, trust and juvenile cases. The Jennings Circuit Court is located on the second floor of the Jennings County Courthouse, 24 North Pike Street, P. O. Box 386, Vernon, Indiana 47282 The Court's offices and Judge's Chamber are located on the second floor of the Jennings County Courthouse. The Honorable Jon W. Webster is the former Judge of Jennings Circuit Court. He was elected in 1996 and his term of office began on January 1, 1997. He was reelected for a fourth term in 2014. Judge Webster graduated from the University of Louisville in 1979 and from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1982. He was admitted to the practice of law by the Indiana Supreme Court on October 15, 1982. Judge Webster is a member of the Indiana Judges Association and currently a member of the Criminal Jury Instructions Committee, Character and Fitness Committee, and Probate Committee. Judge Webster retired in 2020 and was replaced by the Honorable Murielle S. Bright. Murielle (Ellie) Bright was elected in 2020 and took office January 1, 2021. She attended Jennings County High School, Butler University graduating in 2007 and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law graduating in 2010. She was admitted to the practice of law by the Indiana Supreme Court on October 15, 2010. Prior to being elected and taking office as Circuit Court Judge, Judge Bright owned and operated her private law practice in North Vernon, IN for the past 10 years.