La Porte County (La Porte, Michigan City) Indiana DUI courts and procedures

This information about La Porte County (La Porte, Michigan City) Indiana DUI DWI OWI courts and procedures is brought to you as a public service by attorney Paul Stanko, Indiana DUI DWI OWI Drunk Driving defense lawyer.

Call Toll Free (888) 778-2656 or email indianadui@yahoo.com for a

FREE, No Obligation, completely confidential initial consultation

concerning your La Porte County (La Porte, Michigan City) Indiana DUI case.

I. Overview

LaPorte County Courthouse - LaPorte

LaPorte County Courthouse - Michigan City

DUI DWI OWI cases in La Porte County are filed in Circuit Court or Superior Court #3 in La Porte or Superior Court #4 in Michigan City, depending upon factors such as whether they are misdemeanor or felony charges, and whether they took place in northern or southern La Porte County. This is regulated by local rules.

The Circuit Court judge holds court in the La Porte County Courthouse in La Porte. Superior Court #3 holds court in the La Porte County Government Complex in La Porte. Superior Court #4 holds court in the La Porte County Courthouse in Michigan City.

II. Court-specific information

For your convenience, contact information concerning La Porte County's DUI courts is presented below:

La Porte Circuit Court

Hon. Thomas Alevizos, Judge

Thomas G. Pawloski, Magistrate

813 Lincoln Way

LaPorte, IN 46350

Phone: (219) 326-6808

Fax: (219) 324-0147

La Porte Superior Court #3

Hon. Paul J. Baldoni, Judge Pro Tempore

809 State Street, #104

LaPorte, IN 46350

Phone: (219) 326-6808

Fax: (219) 326-0056

La Porte Superior Court #4

Hon. William J. Boklund, Judge

Greta Friedman, Magistrate

300 Washington Street, # 116

Michigan City, Indiana 46360

Phone: (219) 874-5611 ext. 750

Fax: (219) 878-9523

III. Case Management, Procedures and Scheduling

A. Initial Hearing.

At your initial hearing, the court officially informs you of your constitutional rights and the charges against you, enters your not guilty plea, and sets future court dates. You should never plead guilty at your initial hearing unless you have an attorney with you and have negotiated an acceptable plea agreement.

You must appear in court for your initial hearing whether you have an attorney or not.

Regardless whether your case is a misdemeanor or felony, it is wise to obtain DUI counsel before the initial hearing date.

B. Your constitutional rights.

These are your constitutional rights, as provided by Indiana law (verbatim excerpt from Indiana Code):

IC 35-33-7-5 Informing of accused

At the initial hearing of a person, the judicial officer shall inform him orally or in writing:

(1) that he has a right to retain counsel and if he intends to retain counsel he must do so within:

(A) twenty (20) days if the person is charged with a felony; or

(B) ten (10) days if the person is charged only with one (1) or more misdemeanors;

after this initial hearing because there are deadlines for filing motions and raising defenses, and if those deadlines are missed, the legal issues and defenses that could have been raised will be waived;

(2) that he has a right to assigned counsel at no expense to him if he is indigent;

(3) that he has a right to a speedy trial;

(4) of the amount and conditions of bail;

(5) of his privilege against self-incrimination;

(6) of the nature of the charge against him; and

(7) that a preliminary plea of not guilty is being entered for him and the preliminary plea of not guilty will become a formal plea of not guilty:

(A) twenty (20) days after the completion of the initial hearing; or

(B) ten (10) days after the completion of the initial hearing if the person is charged only with one (1) or more misdemeanors;

unless the defendant enters a different plea.

In addition, the judge shall direct the prosecuting attorney to give the defendant or his attorney a copy of any formal felony charges filed or ready to be filed. The judge shall, upon request of the defendant, direct the prosecuting attorney to give the defendant or his attorney a copy of any formal misdemeanor charges filed or ready to be filed.

C. Other Court Dates.

If your case is not resolved at the Initial Hearing, subsequent hearings such as pretrial conferences will be set before any trial date. It is essential that you have counsel for any of these subsequent court dates.

IV. Following are links to some official sites for La Porte County and its major municipalities:

La Porte County

http://www.laportecounty.org/info/index.html

La Porte County Courts:

http://www.in.gov/judiciary/marshall/

La Porte County Prosecutor:

http://www.laportecountyprosecutor.com/

City of La Porte (County Seat):

http://www.cityoflaporte.com/

City of Michigan City:

http://www.emichigancity.com/

Communities in La Porte County include the following:

City of Michigan City, City of La Porte, Trail Creek, Westville, Wanatah, Rolling Prairie, Hesston, Mill Creek, Union Mills, LaCrosse, Kingsford Heights, Waterford, Kingsbury, Hanna, Fish Lake, Hudson Lake