INDIANA — State Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) questioned expert witnesses on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, during a meeting of the Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary to evaluate how Indiana tracks trial court workloads and allocates judicial resources statewide.
The committee heard testimony from Indiana Supreme Court Associate Justice Christopher Goff and Marshall County Superior Court No. 3 Judge Matthew Sarber. Presentations focused on current trial court caseload measures, the overall effectiveness of these metrics, and alternative criteria to better reflect judicial demands across the state’s courts.
Indiana’s judicial system manages a heavy workload, with over one million new cases filed annually across the state. Currently, 485 full-time judicial officers handle those filings.
“I always find reviewing the caseload management of judges in Indiana in the judiciary study committee to be very informative as we consider legislation for next session that could improve our justice system and make sure each jurisdiction is properly staffed relative to its needs,” said Koch.
Interim study committees are utilized by the Indiana General Assembly during the summer and fall months to examine policy issues, hear public testimony, and craft potential legislation in advance of the upcoming legislative session in January.
Koch, who serves as the Ranking Majority Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, represents Senate District 44. The district encompasses Brown, Jackson, Lawrence, and Orange counties, as well as portions of Monroe County.
