Former Lake County Judge Paul Stanko is one of Indiana's most experienced criminal lawyers. As a prosecutor in Starke and Lake Counties, a presiding judge in the Superior Court of Lake County, Constitutional Law and Criminal Justice professor at Indiana University, and criminal defense attorney throughout northern Indiana, he has helped thousands of persons with issues in Indiana criminal law.
The three regional Law Offices of Paul Stanko, Attorney at Law focus on providing high-quality client service and superior outcomes. Paul Stanko's practice is devoted to the defense of those accused of drunk driving and boating, drug possession and dealing, domestic violence, violent crimes, white collar crimes, and other criminal offenses throughout northern Indiana. From his South Bend and Plymouth offices, he serves clients with criminal cases in St. Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart, LaGrange, Kosciusko, Whitley, Fulton, Miami, Starke, LaPorte and surrounding counties. From his Crown Point office, he serves counties along the I-65 corridor, including Lake, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Carroll, White and Tippecanoe counties. Besides drunk driving and drug law defense, he handles all other criminal cases, including felony and misdemeanor charges.
Paul Stanko has been honored to serve as a member of the Board of Governors, Court of Appeals and Historian of the American Judges Association, as well as chairman of the Retired/Senior Judges Committee and member of the Membership, Court Security and Conference Site committees of that organization. Paul is also a proud member of the NORML Legal Committee, the National Rifle Association, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates & Mitigation Specialists (NASAM) & life-long defender of the Bill of Rights.
With over 40 years of experience in Indiana criminal law and recognized expertise in defending persons accused of crimes, Paul Stanko is here to help you in your hour of need
- 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.
- 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
- 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)
- Owner - Founder
- Law Offices of Paul Stanko - Plymouth Office
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- 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.
- 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
- Commencement Address , Crown Point High School
- Crown Point Community School Corporation
- Special Courts Jurisdiction Certificate
- National Judicial College-University of Nevada
- Dispute Resolution
- 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
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers-Indiana
- The National Trial Lawyers
- 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
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- Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
- Member
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- Fulton County Bar Association
- Member
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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)
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- 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
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- Indiana
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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.
- Criminal Law
- DUI & DWI
- Cannabis & Marijuana Law
- Domestic Violence
- White Collar Crime
- Boating While Intoxicated
- Breath Test Refusal
- Cocaine Dealing Defense
- Cocaine Possession defense
- Consulting Attorney - Criminal Defense
- Criminal Litigation-Felonies and Misdemeanors
- English: Spoken, Written
- Website
- Website
South Bend DUI Lawyers - Paul Stanko 574-383-9073
Plymouth DUI Lawyers - Paul Stanko 574-383-9073
Mishawaka DUI Lawyers - Paul Stanko 574-383-9073