McMichel v. State

ON PETITIONS TO TRANSFER

SULLIVAN, Justice.

Today we resolve two cases involving the authority of court officers to enter a final appealable order.

Background

In McMichel v. State, Master Commissioner Allen N. Smith, Jr. of the Marion Superior Court denied appellant, Paul McMichel's, petition for post-conviction relief. The record shows that the court's regular judge, the Hon. Paula E. Lopossa, properly appointed Smith as judge pro tempore on the date of the post conviction hearing, May 28, 1992. Master Commissioner Smith took the evidence presented during the post conviction proceeding under…