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 This information about Porter County (Valparaiso, Portage) 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 Porter County (Valparaiso, Portage) Indiana DUI case.

I. Overview

Porter County Courthouse North - Portage

Porter County Courthouse - Valparaiso

DUI DWI OWI cases in Porter County are filed in Superior Courts #3 or #6 in Portage or Superior Court #4 in Valparaiso, depending upon which police agency made the arrest. This is regulated by local rules.

Superior Court #4 holds court in the Porter County Courthouse in Valparaiso. Superior Courts #3 and #6 hold court in the Porter County Government Center in Portage.

II. Court-specific information

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

Porter Superior Court #3

Hon. Julia M. Jent, Judge

3560 Willowcreek Road

Portage, IN 46368

Phone: (219) 759-8232

Fax: (219) 759-6852

Porter Superior Court #4

Hon. David L. Chidester, Judge

16 Lincolnway, # 228

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone: (219) 465-3412

Fax: (219) 465-3671

Porter Superior Court #6

Hon. Jeffrey L. Thode, Judge

3560 Willowcreek Road

Portage, IN 46368

Phone: (219) 759-8202

Fax: (219) 759-6039

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. An exception can be made if the charge is only a misdemeanor and if your attorney has had you complete an Acknowledgement of Administrative License Suspension and filed this with the Court (along with your "pink slip" Receipt for License) before the initial hearing date.

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

B.     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.

Communities in Porter County include the following:

Beverly Shores, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres, Hebron, Kouts, Ogden Dunes, Portage, Porter, Town of Pines, Valparaiso, Aylesworth, Babcock, Beatrice, Beverly Hill, Blackhawk Beach, Boone Grove, Brummitt Acres, Burdick, Burlington Beach, Clanricarde, Coburg, Coolwood Acres, Crestview, Crocker, Edgewater, Five Points Corner, Furnessville, Garyton, Graham Woods, Haglund, Hillcrest, Hurlburt, Lake Eliza, Lakes of the Four Seasons, Lake View, Lincoln Hills, Long Lake Island, Malden, Marian Manor, Northwood Park, Porter Crossroads, Roble Woods, Sedley, South Haven, Suman, Sylvan Manor, Tratebas Mill, Tremont, Wake Robin Fields, Westhill, Wheeler, Woodville