INDIANAPOLIS -- The Lawrence Township small claims court could soon operate more like Judge Judy's television domain if a proposal to privatize the court is approved.

Lawrence Township Trustee Mike Hobbs said he wants the township to consider privatizing the court because it could save taxpayers money, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.

The court -- which handles about 8,000 cases a year -- uses some taxpayer funds to pay its judge, constable and other staff, but often also turns a profit, Hobbs said.

Currently, Hobbs said, the majority of the money made from small claims court goes to the constable, Brian Bulger, who serves court papers.

Last year, Hobbs said that Bulger generated $200,000 in income. Bulger said the amount was closer to $190,000 and that the money was used to pay six deputies, as well as thousands of dollars in postage, making his actual income around $65,000. Bulger also works full-time as a police lieutenant.

Hobbs wants to allocate the profit for other purposes.

"We're almost positive that the numbers could exceed what we pay out right now," Hobbs said. "For example, we're looking at different government services that by privatizing the small claims court we may actually be able to fund emergency assistance [and] poor relief."

Small claims Judge James Joven told Hightower that there's nothing constitutional to keep the court from becoming a private business.