Indiana Code Title 33. Courts and Court Officers § 33-38-10-4

Sec. 4. (a) A trial conducted by a private judge shall be conducted without a jury.

(b) A person who serves as a private judge has, for each case the private judge hears, the same powers as the judge of a circuit court in relation to:

(c) All proceedings in an action heard by a private judge are of record and must be:

(d) The Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure apply for all actions brought before a private judge.  An appeal from an action or a judgment of a private judge may be taken in the same manner as an appeal from the circuit court of the county where the case is filed.