Thorne
Michigan City attorney Jeffrey L. Thorne is a candidate for LaPorte County Superior Court 3 judge on the Republican ticket.
The primary election is May 6, 2014, and the general election is Nov. 4, 2014.
“As a practicing attorney with a deep commitment to this county, my experience from a personal, business and professional perspective has prepared me to serve all members of the Bar and the public in a firm, fair and respectful manner,” Thorne stated in a press release. “Over the years, there have been far too many uncontested judicial elections which have deprived the public of an opportunity to choose who will be their
judge. I want to offer the citizens of LaPorte County an opportunity to select a judge with integrity upon whom they can depend and be proud.”
Thorne began his practice of law in 1978 at Sweeney, Winski, Dabagia & Donoghue and was admitted as a Fellow of the Indiana Bar Association on Dec. 31, 1979. Since 1981, he has been a partner in the firm now known as Sweeney, Dabagia & Thorne, LLP. He is a member of the LaPorte County (four years as governor),
Indiana State and American bar associations and is licensed to practice in all Indiana courts, U.S. district courts for the northern and southern districts of Indiana, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Circuit. In 1984, he was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Thorne has served as pro bono participant in the annual Martin Luther King Day Talk to an Attorney programs; attorney to the Long Beach Town Council (1981-2012); past president of the Michigan City Bar Association; attorney for the Town of Michiana Shores (1978-1980) and the Town of Pottawatomie Park; member of the Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association (1981-2012); and present counsel to the Michigan City Aviation
Commission.
In 1992, he was appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to conduct character and fitness examinations of LaPorte County residents seeking admission to the Indiana State Bar. “I was honored to have been appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court on the recommendation of the late Susan Heminger, judge of LaPorte Superior Court 4,” he said. “In a pro bono position, I conduct approximately one dozen interviews per year and I take very seriously my obligation to make appropriate recommendations as to the character and fitness of the applicants to be admitted to the Indiana Bar.”
Thorne has practiced in the areas of civil, criminal, domestic, real estate, bankruptcy, social security disability, municipal, corporate, and aviation law. “Having practiced in all of the courts of LaPorte County for over 35 years, I have had the opportunity and honor to practice before and learn from a number of outstanding
judges. I have had the opportunity to observe how various courts, similar in case load to LaPorte Superior Court 3, operate.”
Thorne was born in Gary and has lived in LaPorte County
since 1962. He is a graduate of Elston High School, Michigan City, and received a bachelor of arts Degree from Indiana University and his juris doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law. His civic associations include: prior membership on the Board of Directors of the Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce for 12 years; prior terms of membership on the Board of Directors of Michigan City Red Cross, LaPorte County Youth Service Bureau, Michigan City Junior Achievement and Samaritan Center; past co-chair of the Professional Division of the United
Way of Michigan City; current member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan City Historical Society; member and former elder of First Presbyterian Church of Michigan City; former member of Michigan City Exchange Club. He has been married to Joanne Thorne for 38 years and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Jennelle and Julia.