Johnson County
Johnson County occupies about 320 square miles of land area in Indiana. It was named in honor of Indiana Supreme Court Judge John Johnson and was formed in 1823. As of 2022, 161,952 persons reside in Johnson County. The county's largest city is Greenwood, while its county seat is Franklin.
Johnson County's judicial system comprises the Circuit, Superior, Juvenile, and City Courts. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, which is not exclusive to other county courts. Circuit Court judges in Johnson County typically hear civil lawsuits such as contract disputes, professional malpractices, tort claims, worker's compensation claims, and family law cases. They also preside over criminal court proceedings like felonies and class A misdemeanors. Litigants unsatisfied with City Courts' judgments can file appeals at the Johnson County Circuit Court. The four Superior Courts in Johnson County are also general jurisdiction courts. They handle minor misdemeanors, landlord-tenant complaints, and small claims disputes. The Superior Courts also resolve juvenile, probate, and mental health cases. On the other hand, the Juvenile Court oversees legal matters like juvenile delinquencies, child dependencies, and truancy. Johnson County's City Courts, located in Franklin and Greenwood, handle criminal pre-trials, traffic crimes, and ordinance violations.
Johnson County court records are official documents of legal proceedings held in the Circuit and Superior Courts. These documents typically contain transcripts, orders, exhibits, affidavits, electronic recordings, jury verdicts, pleadings, warrants, and other materials filed or submitted during court cases. The Clerk of the Courts in Johnson County maintains and disseminates public court records in line with the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. According to the state law, public court records include the following:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
- Land records
- Family law records
Meanwhile, juvenile records, adoption records, and mental health records are not open to the public. These documents contain sensitive and personal details about vulnerable persons in the county. As such, only named individuals on the records and others granted special permissions by the court can request confidential court records. Eligible persons can obtain confidential records by visiting the court clerk at:
Johnson County Courthouse
5 East Jefferson Street
Franklin, IN 46131
Phone: (317) 346-4450
On the other hand, anyone can access Johnson County public court records online via the Indiana Case Search. To find case information on the database, type the names of the people involved, case numbers, or attorney names in the relevant spaces provided.
