In 1989 Indiana also added "Senior Judges", who are those semi-retired judges YAG described. I've had three hearings in front of our local SJ.
So, we have Circuit Judges and Associate Circuit Judges. But it's not at all the same thing as what y'all are describing. We've had the same judge for the entire time we've been divorced, he's presided over all hearings/trials, made all the decisions, etc. And the only place to appeal upwards is the Appeals Court - he was an ACJ, but it's not like you could appeal to the CJ. Doesn't work that way. He was recently appointed to be the CJ, after ours retired (those mandatory aging out rules), so I don't know if that will affect his hearing our case in the future.
