Indiana officials looking to start special commercial courts

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana judicial leaders are working on plans to establish courts that specialize in handling complex business cases.

The Indiana Supreme Court announced Tuesday the formation of a committee to recommend policies and procedures for the new commercial courts.

Allen Superior Court Judge Craig Bobay is chairman of the 19-member panel that includes several judges and lawyers, two state legislators and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce president. Bobay says the commercial courts could remove time-consuming businesses cases from the dockets of regular county-level courts.

Chief Justice Loretta Rush says the aim is to have the commercial courts operating in 2016.

The state Supreme Court says commercial courts now exist in 22 states, including Michigan and Ohio.