Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. has announced that on January 9, 2017 the Hammond City Council voted and he approved an ordinance to consolidate the Hammond City Court with Lake Superior Court in a cost cutting move. Under the terms of the approved ordinance, Hammond City Court will cease to operate as of January 1, 2019. The City of Hammond and Lake Superior Court have been working tirelessly to ensure that the transition is smooth and efficient.
Early January 2017, the Hammond Police Department ceased filing criminal misdemeanors in the Hammond City Court per the approved ordinance. The next step in the approved ordinance begins July 1, 2017 when the traffic ordinances, formerly heard at Hammond City Court, will now be heard at 232 Russell Street in downtown Hammond.
According to the Superior Court of Lake County, online payment of traffic offenses for eligible citizens will be available to those receiving citations from the Hammond Police Department. Also, the Court is in the process of installing public kiosks in all County Clerk’s Office for those who don’t have home internet access. However at this time, over the counter payments can only be accepted by the Clerk at the location where the case is pending.
“On behalf of the City of Hammond, I wish to thank the Lake Superior Court, in particular the Chief Judge, Honorable John Pera, for his cooperation towards eliminating redundancy and working towards consolidation,” stated Mayor McDermott.