The Plainfield Town Court (Town Court) was created in 1989 as a service to residents of Plainfield and the surrounding areas, who prior to the creation of the Court, had to go to Danville to resolve any violations or criminal offenses that occurred in Plainfield and the surrounding areas.
Education & Practice
The Honorable James D. Spencer has served as the judge of Plainfield Town Court since July 24, 1989. He was also a practicing attorney and focused his civil practice on construction and engineering-related matters, estate planning, and administration. He received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Judge Spencer is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and the Indiana City and Town Court Judges Association. Honorable James D. Spencer has also served as the President of the Indiana City and Town Court Judges Association.
Volunteer Research
On a volunteer (pro-bono) basis Jim Spencer, at the request of the Plainfield Town Council, conducted the legal research required to establish the Town Court. To establish the Town Court, it was necessary to have bills introduced in the 1989 Indiana General Assembly. These bills were introduced by Senator Dick Thompson in the Senate and Representative Joyce Brinkman in the House. Jim and several representatives from the Town of Plainfield testified at the House and Senate Committee hearings in support of the introduced bills.
The First Judge
House Bill (HB) 1388 was passed by both the Indiana House and the Indiana Senate and signed by the Governor. The Plainfield Town Council asked Jim Spencer to serve as the first Judge, and he was appointed to that position. Jim has been subsequently re-elected as Judge in:
- 1991
- 1995
- 1999
- 2003
- 2007
- 2011
- 2015
Jim has been a licensed and practicing attorney for 42 years and, in addition to the part-time position as Town Court Judge, he has specialized his law practice in the areas of business law as an Assistant General Counsel, business litigation, and estate/financial planning. He is a military veteran having served as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineer officer in the European Engineering Command.
An Active Member of the Community
Jim is an active member of the Plainfield Community having served as president of the Plainfield Optimist Club, an initial board member, initial legal counsel and subsequently as president for the White Lick Community Foundation (the predecessor of The Hendricks Community Foundation).
Jim has also been active and involved in the Indiana Judicial legal community having served as president of the Indiana Cities and Town Courts Judges Association and he has served frequently as a faculty member and presenter at the annual Judges’ meetings as well as a faculty member for the new judge training sessions for city and town court judges.
Family
Jim has been married to his wife, Margie, for 48 years and their son and daughter attended and graduated from the Plainfield Community Schools.