Continuing Judicial Education (CJE)
Mandated for all judicial officers by Admission and Discipline Rule 28.
- Education requirements are different depending upon the classification of judicial officer.
- “State level judicial officers” must obtain 15 hours of CJE each year with no less than 54 hours per 3-year reporting period. At least 5 hours must be in professional responsibility per 3-year period and no more than 18 hours of the 54-hour requirement is to be filled by non-legal subject matter courses. The 54-hour requirement applies to a sitting Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, Judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals or Tax Court, Judge of a circuit, superior or probate court, magistrate, and a full-time court commissioner or referee of a circuit, superior or probate court. A “full-time” commissioner or referee means an attorney who does not practice law regardless of the number of hours worked per week for the court.
- Senior judges, part-time commissioners and referees, Marion County small claims judges and city/town court judges must obtain at least 6 hours of CJE each year with no less than 36 hours per 3-year reporting period. At least 3 hours must be in professional responsibility per 3-year period and no more than 12 hours of the 36-hour requirement is to be filled by non-legal subject matter courses.
- Any course approved for continuing legal education credit by the Indiana Office of Admissions and Continuing Education is also approved for continuing judicial education credit.
- Hours may be obtained through any approved program provider including the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS).
Indiana Judicial College
Program offered by IOCS for all Indiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Tax Court, Circuit, Superior, and County level judicial officers.
- Requires 120 hours of designated "Judicial College credit" hours offered by IOCS
- All state-level judicial officers are automatically eligible to participate in the Indiana Judicial College Program.
Indiana Graduate Program for Judges
Program open to all Indiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Tax Court, Circuit, Superior, and County level judicial officers.
- Program for judges who desire a more in-depth and intensive learning experience
- Requires one week of course work for two consecutive summers with additional assignments
- Participation limited to 30 per class; participants must apply for acceptance into the program
Indiana Judicial College Master's Certificate Program
Current Indiana judicial officers who have graduated from the Indiana Judicial College Program are eligible to participate in the Master’s Certificate Program. Senior judges may apply for a Master’s Certificate, as long as they have completed the Graduate Program for Indiana Judges before leaving the bench as an active, sitting judge or magistrate.
- To participate, you must submit a Notice of Participation form to IOCS. [If you wish to participate in the Master’s Certificate Program, download the Notice of Participation, fill it out at return it to IOCS at the address shown on the form.
- Attend 120 hours of Masters Judicial College courses or sessions.
- Complete the Indiana Graduate Program for Judges before or during participation in the Master’s Program.
- Submit an original writing or other “special” project, as approved by the Judicial Education Committee. The writing/special project component must be “substantial, of benefit to the judiciary, and suitable for publication.”
For more information about the writing/special project component and to request project approval, please download the Request for Project Approval Master’s Certificate Program form.
If you wish to participate in the Indiana Judicial College Master's Certificate Program, download the Notice of Participation form. To meet the writing requirement for the Master's Certificate Program, download the Request for Project Approval form. These forms may be returned to:
Indiana Office of Court Services
251 N. Illinois Street, Suite 800
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Vicki L. Davis
Deputy Director, Education Division
vicki.davis@courts.in.gov
Ashley Moise
Education Attorney
ashley.moise@courts.in.gov