Clinton County Circuit and Superior Courts Overview
Indiana's trial-court system is built around circuit courts, superior courts, and local city or town courts rather than county district courts. Clinton County has one Circuit Court, one Superior Court, and Frankfort City Court. The Circuit Court is led by Judge Brad Mohler, also listed as Hon. Bradley K. Mohler in the Indiana court directory. The Superior Court is led by Judge Justin Hunter. Frankfort City Court is led by Judge Matthew K. Beardsley.
The Indiana Judicial Branch identifies Clinton County as part of Judicial District 12 with Boone, Hamilton, and Tipton counties. Appeals from local trial courts generally move into Indiana's appellate system, principally the Indiana Court of Appeals, with the Indiana Supreme Court as the highest state court. Federal cases are separate from county trial-court records and are handled through the Southern District of Indiana, Seventh Circuit, and PACER systems when federal jurisdiction exists.
The state Clinton County court page is the high-authority starting point for MyCase, e-filing, court statistics, local rules, and Judicial District 12 context.
That state court page confirms the county's official trial-court connections and helps distinguish Indiana terminology from the district-court wording used in some search habits.
List of Clinton County Trial Courts
The local court table should be read with the courthouse address discrepancy in mind. Clinton County's own Clerk and Courts pages list 2 E Washington St. suites for current visitor directions. The Indiana court directory lists Courthouse Square addresses for the Clerk, Circuit Court, and Superior Court. For a hearing, copy request, or filing deadline, confirm the exact suite, courtroom, or mailing address before arrival.
| Court / Office | Judicial officer / official | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton Circuit Court | Judge Brad Mohler / Bradley K. Mohler | County page: 2 E Washington St. STE 306; state directory: 355 Courthouse Square | 765-659-6345 |
| Clinton Superior Court | Judge Justin Hunter | County page: 2 E Washington St. STE 306; state directory: 320 Courthouse Square | 765-659-6340; directory 765-659-6341 |
| Frankfort City Court | Judge Matthew K. Beardsley | 301 E. Clinton Street, Frankfort, IN 46041 | 765-654-5715 |
| Clinton County Clerk of the Courts | Stephanie Harshbarger, Clerk | 2 E Washington St. STE 304; state directory also lists 265 Courthouse Square | 765-659-6335 |
| Probation | Matthew Risk, Chief Probation Officer | 259 E. Walnut St. Suite B, Frankfort, IN 46041 | 765-659-6355 |
| Community Corrections | Brett Barton | 400 E Clinton St., Frankfort, IN 46041 | 765-659-2966 |
Circuit Court vs. Superior Court vs. Frankfort City Court
Clinton County's comparison is not District Court versus County Court versus JP Court. The local comparison is Circuit Court, Superior Court, and Frankfort City Court. The county Courts page states circuit courts are the only Indiana trial courts named in the state constitution and historically heard all civil and criminal cases. Superior courts were created as local needs grew and generally hear civil and criminal matters, with small-claims and minor-offense divisions depending on county organization. City courts have narrower local jurisdiction.
| Clinton Circuit Court | Clinton Superior Court | Frankfort City Court | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Jurisdiction | General trial jurisdiction except where another court has exclusive or shared jurisdiction. | General trial jurisdiction varies by local assignment and may include civil matters. | Limited city/local matters, often ordinance and traffic issues. |
| Criminal Jurisdiction | Felony, misdemeanor, probation, and related criminal matters by assignment. | Civil and criminal matters by assignment, including minor offenses where assigned. | Local ordinance and traffic matters within city-court authority. |
| Family / Probate | May handle dissolution, family, probate, guardianship, and estate work by local assignment. | May handle civil, family, probate, small claims, and minor offenses by local assignment. | Not the ordinary venue for divorce, probate, or major family cases. |
| Appeals / Review | Appeals route through Indiana appellate courts. | Appeals route through Indiana appellate courts. | Appeals from city or town court go to circuit or superior court. |
Indiana's general court-system overview explains the statewide structure of trial courts, the Court of Appeals, Tax Court, and Supreme Court.
That overview supports the local Clinton County breakdown by showing where circuit, superior, city, appellate, and specialty courts fit within the Indiana judiciary.
How a Case Moves Through the Clinton County System
Case flow depends on case type, filing location, and whether the matter belongs in Circuit Court, Superior Court, or Frankfort City Court. MyCase can show the public chronological case summary, hearings, parties, attorneys, financial balances, and documents when available. Certified copies and official records come from the court or Clerk, not from a public-service screen alone.
Criminal flow: Arrest or summons › prosecutor filing or court information › initial hearing or arraignment › bond and pretrial orders › discovery and motions › plea, trial, dismissal, or diversion if available › sentencing or judgment › probation, Community Corrections, payment, or appeal.
Civil flow: Complaint or petition filed › summons and service › answer or default › motions and discovery › mediation or settlement when ordered or chosen › hearing or trial › judgment › collection, satisfaction, post-judgment motion, or appeal.
Traffic flow: Ticket issued › citation or case appears in MyCase or the listed court › payment, contest, or required appearance › disposition › possible BMV points, suspension, warrant, or collection consequences depending on outcome.
Civil, Family, Probate, Criminal, and Traffic Work
Civil records can include general civil cases, collections, evictions, judgments, liens, tort and contract disputes, garnishments, and small claims. Family records include dissolution of marriage, custody, parenting time, support, protective orders, and related domestic matters. Probate records cover estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and related petitions. Criminal records can include charges, informations, pleas, dispositions, sentencing, probation, and warrants.
Traffic and infraction records may be in Clinton Circuit Court, Clinton Superior Court, or Frankfort City Court depending on the ticket and issuing location. The Clerk page links Indiana ePay for traffic-ticket payment, and the county Courts page links Doxpop for court records and online fine payment. The court traffic case is separate from the BMV driver record, which shows license status, suspensions, citations, violations, and points.
Judicial District 12 and Local Rules
Clinton County is in Judicial District 12 with Boone, Hamilton, and Tipton counties. The Indiana Judicial Branch county page links Clinton County local rules, MyCase, e-filing, and court statistics. Local rules are important because they can address special judges, court reporters, caseload allocation, district service, and local court administration. The research identifies the local rules PDF as an official source even though the image capture failed because the PDF opened as a download.
Community Corrections adds a local supervision layer after or instead of jail or prison. Clinton County Community Corrections was established in 2002 and receives referrals from Clinton Circuit, Clinton Juvenile, and Clinton Superior Courts. It supports alternatives such as home detention/electronic monitoring, work release, day reporting, community transition, and related programs. Probation is led by Chief Probation Officer Matthew Risk and publishes compliance rules including monthly contact, updated address and employment information, fee payment, program completion, and reporting new arrests or charges.
Lower Courts, Federal Courts, and Appeals
Frankfort City Court is the local lower court named in the Indiana court directory for Clinton County. It is located at 301 E. Clinton Street, Frankfort, and has phone 765-654-5715 and fax 765-654-7773. It can matter for traffic, ordinance, and city-level cases. If a case is not found in MyCase under Circuit or Superior Court, the city-court listing on the ticket or notice should be checked before assuming no record exists.
Federal cases for Clinton County are separate from county court records. Clinton County is in the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, and federal appeals go to the Seventh Circuit. PACER is the direct federal docket/document system, while CourtListener can provide some free opinion or docket research. County civil, criminal, probate, family, and traffic files remain with Clinton County courts and the Clerk unless the dispute is actually federal.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana helps mark that separation.
That court is relevant for federal civil or criminal matters, but it does not replace Clinton Circuit Court, Clinton Superior Court, Frankfort City Court, or the Clinton County Clerk for local records.
The Seventh Circuit is the federal appellate court for Indiana federal cases.
The appellate source reinforces the difference between Indiana state appeals from county trial courts and federal appeals from the Southern District of Indiana.