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Paul Stanko

Paul Stanko

Plymouth-Warsaw-Knox-Rochester-Winamac-Peru Indiana DUI, Criminal & Drug Defense
  • Criminal Law, DUI & DWI, Cannabis & Marijuana Law ...
  • Indiana
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Biography

Former Lake County Superior Court Judge Paul Stanko is one of Indiana's most experienced, distinguished & respected criminal trial lawyers, with over FOUR DECADES of courtroom experience in Indiana criminal law, dating back to 1979. As a prosecutor in Starke & Lake Counties, presiding judge in the Superior Court of Lake County, Constitutional Law & Criminal Justice professor at Indiana University & criminal defense attorney throughout northern Indiana, he has helped THOUSANDS of persons and tried MANY HUNDREDS of criminal cases. The Law Offices of Paul Stanko do not accept any cases other than criminal defense in Indiana Trial courts. Our offices are laser-focused on Criminal Defense and ONLY Criminal Defense!

The Law Offices of Paul Stanko provide high-quality client service and superior outcomes in the field of Indiana criminal defense, EXCLUSIVELY. Paul Stanko's practice is devoted to the defense of those accused of drunk driving & boating, drug possession & dealing, domestic violence, violent crimes, white collar crimes, & other criminal offenses in northern Indiana. From his Plymouth offices, Paul serves clients with criminal cases in Marshall, Kosciusko, Fulton, Starke, Pulaski and Miami counties. Besides drunk driving & drug law defense, he handles all other criminal cases, including felonies & misdemeanors. Paul Stanko is also available to assist other attorneys as Local or Co-Counsel or Sentencing Consultant.

Paul has been honored to serve as a member of the Board of Governors, Court of Appeals & Historian of the American Judges Association, as well as chairman of the Retired/Senior Judges Committee & member of the Membership, Court Security, Criminal Justice & Conference Site committees of that organization. Paul is also a life-long defender of the Bill of Rights, proud member of the NORML Legal Committee, National Rifle Association, National Legal Aid & Defender Association, and National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates & Mitigation Specialists.

Education
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Special Courts Jurisdiction Certificate (1986) | Judicial Education
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Attended and successfully completed numerous courses offered by the National Judicial College at the University of Nevada-Reno.
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Valparaiso University
J.D | Law
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Honors: Tribune, Rentner Senate, the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity
Activities: Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity; Radio (WVUR-FM disk jockey and newscaster); Intramural football
Valparaiso University Logo
Duquesne University
B.A. | History Major; Speech & Communications Minor
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Honors: Duquesne University Academic Scholarship; Duquesne University Outstanding Senior Award; Debate Outstanding Senior Award; Alpha Phi Omega Outstanding Senior Award; Inducted into Phi Alpha Theta International Honorary Society in History
Activities: Student Judicial System (Judge-1 term); Student Government Association (Senator-three terms; Chairman of Appropriations, Constitution, Rules, and Parking Committees); Duquesne University Debating Society (Vice-President; Varsity Debater); Phi Alpha Theta International History Honorary Society; Alpha Phi Omega National service Fraternity; Intramural football; Radio (WDUQ-FM)
Duquesne University Logo
Professional Experience
Owner - Founder
Law Offices of Paul Stanko - Plymouth Office
- Current
Practice concentrated in the defense of those accused of crimes in Marshall County and surrounding Counties (Kosciusko, Starke, Fulton and Miami Counties).
Owner - Founder
Law Offices of Paul Stanko - South Bend Office
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Practice concentrated in the defense of those accused of crimes in St. Joseph County and North Central Indiana.
Owner - Founder
Law Offices of Paul Stanko - Crown Point Office
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Practice concentrated in the defense of those accused of crimes in Northwest Indiana courts.
Appellate Attorney
Superior Court of Lake County, Appellate Division
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Responsible for dozens of appeals in the Indiana Court of Appeals and Supreme Court
Presiding Judge
Superior Court of Lake County, Indiana
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Presided over criminal and civil cases in one of Indiana's busiest courts.
Attorney in Private Practice
Law Offices of Paul Stanko
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General trial and appellate practice.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Lake County, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney
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Successfully prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases including serious felonies.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Starke County, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney
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Successfully prosecuted all types of criminal and juvenile cases.
Publications
Articles & Publications
Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart (Article)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE SUPREME COURT
Schmerber v. California (Article)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE SUPREME COURT
Instant OWI: Just Add Clients (computer software)
Paul Stanko
Speaking Engagements
Recent Developments in Criminal Law, 2nd Annual Bench and Bar Conference, Valparaiso University Law School
Porter County Bar Association
Effects of Out-of-State Convictions, DWI: Live CLE
Lake County Bar Association
Representing the Habitual Offender, DWI: Live CLE
Lake County Bar Association
Commencement Address, Crown Point High School
Crown Point Community School Corporation
Certifications
Special Courts Jurisdiction Certificate
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Case Management: Reducing Court Delay
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Constitutional Criminal Procedure
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Judicial Writing
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Advanced Evidence
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Special Court: High Volume Proceedings
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Handling Capital Cases
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Dispute Resolution
National Judicial College-University of Nevada
Awards
Distinguished Lawyer
Lawyers of Distinction
Best of the Best Attorneys-Top 10-Criminal Defense
Best of the Best Attorneys
Best of the Best Attorneys-Top 10-DUI Defense
Best of the Best Attorneys
Elite Lawyer Award
Elite Lawyer
Client Satisfaction Award
Martindale-Hubbell
Best of the Best Attorneys-Top 10-Criminal Defense
Best of the Best Attorneys
Best of the Best Attorneys-Top 10-DUI Defense
Best of the Best Attorneys
Nation's Top One Percent
National Association of Distinguished Counsel
Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney Award
National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers-Indiana
American Society of Legal Advocates
Top 100 Lawyers
American Society of Legal Advocates
Top 100 DUI Attorneys-Indiana
National Advocacy for DUI Defense
10 Best for Client Satisfaction
American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
Top 100 Trial Lawyers-Indiana
The National Trial Lawyers
Adjunct Professor of the Year
Indiana University Northwest
Professional Associations
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
Current
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NORML Legal Committee
Member
Current
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National Legal Aid & Defender Association
Member
Current
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National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates & Mitigation Specialists (NASAMS)
Member
Current
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Kosciusko County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
Member
- Current
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Fulton County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Marshall County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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The National Trial Lawyers
Member-"Top 100 Trial Lawyers"
- Current
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American Judges Association
Governor (2009-2019); Court of Appeals (2019-Present)
- Current
Activities: Elected to Board of Governors in 2009. Re-elected in 2012, 2015 and 2017. Elected to Court of Appeals in 2019. Chairman, Retired/Senior Judges Committee. Conference Site Committee. Membership Committee. Historian-2011-Current
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Indiana State Bar
Admitted to practice in January 1979
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Indiana
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
    Free no obligation initial consultation by telephone, text, email or in person. *Covid-19 Social Distancing can be practiced for your protection!
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Flat fees are quoted in advance in almost all cases. Fees are based on type and seriousness of the case. In most instances, flat fees save a client a substantial amount of money compared to hourly fees. Veterans and active-duty armed forces personnel are offered substantial discounts on fees.
Practice Areas
    Criminal Law
    Drug Crimes, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
    DUI & DWI
    Cannabis & Marijuana Law
    Medical Marijuana
    Domestic Violence
    Domestic Violence Criminal Defense
    White Collar Crime
Additional Practice Areas
  • Boating While Intoxicated
  • Breath Test Refusal
  • Cocaine Dealing Defense
  • Cocaine Possession defense
  • Consulting Attorney - Criminal Defense
  • Criminal Litigation-Felonies and Misdemeanors
  • Domestic Battery Defense
  • Domestic Violence Court Representation
  • Drug Court Representation
  • Drug Dealing defense
  • Drug Law Defense
  • Drunk Driving Defense
  • Habitual Substance Offender
  • Habitual Traffic Violator
  • Impaired Boating (BUI/BWI)
  • Impaired Driving
  • Local Counsel
  • Marijuana Law Defense (Possession, Cultivation, Dealing)
  • Methamphetamine (Meth) Possession and Dealing Defense
  • Murder
  • Operating While Intoxicated
  • OWI
  • Police Interrogations and Questioning Defense
  • Probation Violations
  • Sentence Consulting
  • Strangulation
  • Veterans Court Representation
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
Q. Can a pipe with methamphetamine residue be counted as evidence for possession of paraphernalia AND possession of meth?
A: You are incorrect. The pipe is the paraphernalia, and the Meth is the controlled substance.
Q. If a person is brandishing a firearm on the city sidewalk and you're on your property can you shoot them with a handgun?
A: I don't know what you mean by "brandishing", but it would take far more than that to justify use of deadly force against that person. Keep in mind that there IS a right to bear arms, both for you and the other person. You can't just shoot people because they are armed.
Q. Can someone get arrested for resisting arrest if they are not commiting a crime?
A: "Officer safety" is often used as an excuse for excessive force. For resisting to be a legitimate charge, the police officer must be reasonably engaged in his official duties. If he engages in excessive force, then resisting that unreasonable force (in a reasonable way) would not be a crime. A question such as this is extremely fact sensitive. Hopefully there was a video record of the encounter.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Website
My Story at the National Judicial College
Contact & Map
Law Offices of Paul Stanko
Plymouth (Marshall County) Office
214 W. Washington Street
Plymouth, IN 46563
Toll-Free: (888) 778-2656
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Notice: As a criminal trial lawyer, I am rarely at my physical offices. I am typically in court, on my way to or from court, or working outside my offices. That being said, I am available by telephone, text, email or Google My Business 7 days a week, every week.