Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton seeking to establish Mental Health Problem Solving Court

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton has announced that he intends to develop a Mental Health Problem Solving Court in Bartholomew Superior 1.

Worton has filed a letter of intent with the Indiana Office of Court Services in which he stated that he hopes to have the specialized court up and running by July, 2023.

Worton, who currently presides over all mental health commitments in Bartholomew County, said, “Our standard justice system is simply not equipped to adequately deal with defendants suffering with severe mental illness. We need more tools to increase the safety of our citizens and to ensure that mentally ill defendants are receiving the level of accountability, treatment and supervision that they require so that they can live their lives outside of the justice system. While mental illness is a community issue that requires a community response, a mental health problem solving court is an important part of that response.”

This will be the fourth problem solving court in Bartholomew County. Currently, Judge Worton presides over the Veteran’s Treatment Court, Judge Kelly Benjamin presides over the Drug Recovery Court and Magistrate Brittney Newland presides over the Family Recovery Court.

Problem solving courts utilize a team approach to handling certain cases involving qualifying criminal defendants charged with certain lower level crimes by partnering with mental health providers, substance abuse treatment providers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation, and other relevant agencies depending on the type of problem solving court.

Worton will preside over both the Veterans Treatment Court and the Mental Health Treatment Court in addition to the normal day to day case schedule of Superior Court 1. Chief Probation Officer Brad Barnes will be the program coordinator.

For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.