Lafayette, Indiana, as a stellar city of the mostly rural Tippecanoe County, sits on the banks of IN's powerful Wabash River. The city of Lafayette grew from a French fortress settled in 1717, and, from its origins as a fur trading center, has become the commercial and cultural hub for the region. As the County Seat, Lafayette houses all government offices and is the site of the notable Tippecanoe County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
State court in Tippecanoe County is one of 2 major trial courts. The Tippecanoe Circuit Court is the only court of general jurisdiction. The Superior Courts, which have general jurisdiction, hear all civil and criminal cases, and handle small claims where no county court systems exist.
If you have a personal injury case in Indiana, your claim will be heard in civil court. This FAQs section gives you information about civil lawsuits. If you are confused about the terms you hear while in court, you may find this list of common legal terms handy. Once you’ve gone through a trial, you may have the right to appeal your personal injury case to the state’s Appeals Court or the Supreme Court, both of which are in Indianapolis. Indiana’s Appeals Court is located on 115 W. Washington Street in Suite 1270, while the Indiana Supreme Court is located on 315 Indiana State House Street.
Tippecanoe County’s Magistrate Court, formed in 1995, benefits the county judicial system by handling some of the caseload of the Superior Courts. This convenes at the County Courthouse at 301 Main Street, in Lafayette. The Magistrate further goes to the Jail Courtroom at the Tippecanoe County Jail at 2640 Duncan Road, Lafayette, Monday through Friday at 2 p.m. to conduct hearings on prisoners for Circuit and Superior Court matters.
Lafayette, IN, a Midwestern city, offers some of the finest education in the area. The high ranking K-12 schools include the two-time National Blue Ribbon Lafayette Jefferson High School. Lafayette is home to the Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, while across the river in West Lafayette is the outstanding Purdue University, which now includes a College of Liberal Arts and a School of Pharmacy.
Lafayette reported a population of 56,397 in the Census 2000, with 2007 estimates at almost 64,000, shows steady growth. While much of Lafayette’s economy revolves around the Universities, the city boasts strong international corporations such as Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Landis+Gyr, and Wabash National, the world’s leading manufacturer of semi-truck trailers.
As the cultural hub of Tippecanoe County, Lafayette, Indiana offers its own Symphony Orchestra, the exotic Clegg Botanical Garden and several outstanding museums. Lafayette hosts the Round the Fountain Art Fair in the historic Downtown District, and sultry sounds fill the air during the Uptown Jazz and Blues Festival.
