1. (a) In addition to the magistrate appointed under section 31 of this chapter, the judges of the superior court may, by a vote of a majority of the judges, appoint:

   1. (1) twelve (12) full-time magistrates under IC 33-23-5 after December 31, 2013, and until January 1, 2016, not more than six
   2. (6) of whom may be from the same political party;
   3. (2) sixteen (16) full-time magistrates under IC 33-23-5 after December 31, 2015, and until January 1, 2018, not more than eight (8) of whom may be from the same political party;
   4. (3) twenty (20) full-time magistrates under IC 33-23-5 after December 31, 2017, and until January 1, 2020, not more than ten
   5. (10) of whom may be from the same political party; and
   6. (4) twenty-four (24) full-time magistrates under IC 33-23-5 after December 31, 2019, not more than twelve (12) of whom may be from the same political party.
2. (b) The magistrates continue in office until removed in accordance with local rule.

3. (c) A party to a superior court proceeding that has been assigned to a magistrate appointed under this section may request that an elected judge of the superior court preside over the proceeding instead of the magistrate to whom the proceeding has been assigned. A request under this subsection must be in writing and must be filed with the court:

   1. (1) in a civil case, not later than:

      1. (A) ten (10) days after the pleadings are closed; or
      2. (B) thirty (30) days after the case is entered on the chronological case summary, in a case in which the defendant is not required to answer; or

   2. (2) in a criminal case, not later than ten (10) days after the omnibus date.

      Upon a timely request made under this subsection by either party, the magistrate to whom the proceeding has been assigned shall transfer the proceeding back to the superior court judge.

      [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-5.1-2-27.]

As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.33-2005, SEC.1; P.L.80-2006, SEC.15; P.L.100-2013, SEC.1; P.L.173-2015, SEC.9; P.L.129-2017, SEC.2; P.L.53-2019, SEC.1.