SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Indiana Supreme Court is asking for public feedback on two possible rule changes, one involving remote proceedings, and the second involving electronic devices in courthouses.

Court officials say it is usually lawyers who submit comments, but valuable feedback can, and does, come from members of the public as well.

"In this instance, the proposed rules relate to access to courts, and I thought it important to specifically point it out to our Indiana media," an Indiana Supreme Court official said. "Feedback can and does come from anywhere and the court appreciates it."

"The Indiana Supreme Court is authorized by the state constitution to make rules governing court proceedings and processes. The rules are published online. When the Supreme Court approves rule changes, it issues orders amending the rules of court. Often, before making a change, the public is invited to comment on proposed rule changes."

Two proposals:

• Administrative Rule 14
  -- Indiana’s courts have operated under an interim version of Administrative Rule 14 since September 2022 to provide greater flexibility for lawyers and judges. The Commission on Indiana’s Legal Future recommended in its interim report that the rule should be finalized to cement remote proceedings as part of the norm as opposed to an exception driven by extraordinary circumstances. The court now seeks comment on the final version of the rule.
• New Administrative Rule 23
  -- Proposed new Administrative Rule 23 would allow the public to use portable electronic devices in common areas of court facilities. The new rule would also allow parties and attorneys to use portable electronic devices in the courtroom for specific purposes and allow judicial officers to impose a more restrictive policy in the courtroom for a particular case.