Judge: Indiana General Assembly can call itself into session during emergencies
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Marion County judge says a new state law allowing the General Assembly to call itself into special session during future emergencies does not violate Indiana’s Constitution.
Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, has sought a ruling in a lawsuit against legislative leaders on the matter. Indiana’ sGeneral Assembly is dominated by Republicans in a supermajority.
The case is almost certainly heading to Indiana Supreme Court.
The ruling from the judge of Marion Superior Court 12, P.J. Dietrick, says that “the General Assembly now has complete authority to set the rules governing the timing of its sessions. It may extend its session indefinitely, or enact measures such as HEA (House Enrolled Act) 1123, giving it the ability to commence a session limited to a specified agenda when the legislative council adopts a resolution meeting HEA 1128’s narrowly defined circumstances.”
“The General Assembly is not limited to one session per year; the Special Sessions Clause is a grant of limited legislative authority to the Governor, not a limitation on the General Assembly’s express and inherent legislative authority over the scheduling of its sessions; and there is no constitutional text limiting the General Assembly’s authority over its sessions to only ‘regular’ sessions.”
The ruling also says, “In sum, constitutional text, historical evidence, judicial decisions, and longstanding practice all foreclose the Governor’s theory that the Special Sessions Clause gives him exclusive authority to call any session beyond a purportedly once-a-year ‘regular’ session. Because HEA 1128 simply provides When a legislative session WILL commence and does not limit or restrict the Governor’s ability to call a special session, it does not Violate the Special Sessions Clause.”
Statement
“This is a huge win for the people of Indiana and permits their voices to be heard through their legislators when the Governor invokes his own emergency powers.”
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican