Judge-elect has new ideas for town court
Kenneth Anderson plans to create small claims division
NWI Times
Nov 16, 2003
nwitimes.com/news/local/judge-elect-has-new-ideas-for-town-court/article_43a5741b-505c-5db7-abae-684324392678.html
SCHERERVILLE -- It's been a long road to the bench for Kenneth Anderson.
The road won't end when Anderson is sworn in Jan. 1. That only will be the beginning of a new era for the Schererville Town Court, which the judge-elects hopes to improve and expand.
After a several month legal battle, Anderson will begin a four-year term as Schererville town judge replacing one-term judge Deborah Riga.
Anderson was victorious in their election battle, which centered on Anderson's contention that Riga's 11-vote win in the May Democratic primary was invalid because many absentee ballots cast for Riga were illegal. A Lake County judge agreed with Anderson and overturned 23 ballots, handing Anderson the party's nomination.
Anderson did not face a Republican challenger in the November general election, guaranteeing him the job Jan. 1.
Anderson said he has done a lot of thinking about the position, and he has some ideas about how he'd like to improve the court, making it more efficient.
He has several initiatives, including working closely with the police and probation departments to set up a minor offender program that would include community service, establish an adult substance abuse program in the community and create a civil division within the court.
Anderson has not had a chance to look at the staff but said he has "no desire to remove anyone with good abilities and good knowledge of the court."
"I am gathering information about what will be most efficient for the court and the community," he said.
The court, which has a budget of nearly $112,000, is open Mondays through Thursdays, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon the second and third Mondays and starting at 4 p.m. Thursdays until all cases on the docket have been heard.
Anderson has not made any definite decisions but as a practicing attorney who will maintain his own office, he also is looking at having a full day of court rather than a couple of half days for greater efficiency.
The minor offender program would reinstitute a program in place under previous Judge Daniel Dumezich, where young people who committed an offense, such as minor consumption of alcohol or marijuana, would be given community service.
"I think it was a good idea," Anderson said. "The offenders cleaned up Airport Road, garbage was removed and they painted and completed repairs at the (baseball field) dug outs. I think the young people felt a sense of accomplishment and it was something that helped the town."
Under Riga, that program was discontinued. However, she instituted an educational component for young people who committed infractions.
Riga could not be reached for comment regarding some of the new ideas.
However, Riga and Anderson have communicated by letter regarding plans for a smooth transition.
Anderson said he's had some initial conversations with some of the town's officers, who said the community service program was positive, and they are interested in being involved in it.
Although Schererville Police Chief Daniel Smith has not talked directly to Anderson about his ideas, Smith said he expects he will meet with Anderson before he takes office.
Anderson said he is working with Campagna Academy to develop a program for adult substance abusers that would keep them in town. Anderson has served as the attorney for Campagna for 12 years.
"The classic situation is a DUI (driving while under the influence) where someone may need an educational component," he said, adding that abusers currently go outside of the community for that service and he'd like to offer it in Schererville.
The cornerstone of Anderson's plan is creating a civil division.
Right now, Schererville residents who have a dispute with a neighbor have to go to Crown Point to have the case heard.
"Most towns have courts with a civil division," he said, including Gary, Merrillville and Hammond.
"Schererville doesn't have one but it needs one. It provides for modest collections and for restitution for things like shoplifting. It makes a court more complete. It will keep Schererville disputes within Schererville and provide a forum for the collection of debts," Anderson said.
Schererville Town Manager Richard Krame said he is excited about the prospect of bringing the community service for minor offenders back and the establishment of a civil division.
"The civil division is a very good idea," Krame said. "We have talked some but not completely. I expect we will sit down and talk before he takes office."
Krame said the community service component for minors also helped to keep the town and roads clean.
"The educational classes had merit but I like the idea of community service a lot," he said.
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