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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | Michael Dvorak |
| Address | 51815 Lake Knoll Ct.
South Bend, Indiana , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
October 24, 1948 |
| Died |
Still Living
(76 years) |
| Contributor | Barack O-blame-a |
| Last Modifed | Mr. Matt
May 09, 2022 06:31pm |
| Tags |
Married - Catholic -
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| Info | Michael Dvorak was born in South Bend, Indiana, and he graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1966. Mike earned his bachelor's degree in history from Loyola University in Chicago in 1970. After marrying Kathleen Braunsdorf, he enrolled at Western State University College of Law in San Diego, California, where he received his J.D. in 1975.
After passing the California bar exam in 1975, Mike worked as a deputy prosecutor in Modesto, California. In 1977 Mike returned to South Bend, passed the Indiana bar exam, and worked as a part-time public defender in St. Joseph County while establishing a private practice. Mike resigned as a public defender in 1986 when he ran for and was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives, representing House District 8.
Mike has served the people of the 8th House District since he was elected in November of 1986. During his tenure in the Indiana General Assembly, Mike consistently promoted legislation to improve public safety. Mike also worked to strengthen Indiana's criminal laws, enhancing penalties and working to improve the criminal justice system. Doing so earned him the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police award as Legislator of the Year in 1994.
One of Mike's proudest achievements was authoring the Victims' Rights Amendment to the Indiana Constitution. This Amendment requires that victims of crime be notified of public hearings involving the accused and provides that victims have the right to be present in such hearings. In addition, the Amendment requires that victims be treated with dignity, respect and fairness throughout the criminal proceedings.
Over the last few years Mike has worked on legislation that was enacted into law to make our communities safer and a better place to live. Among these accomplishments are (duplicate bill numbers reflect bills from different legislative years):
House Bill 1202, which helps to prevent children from being sexually abused in schools, allowing schools to perform criminal history background checks on all employees.
Senate Bill 482, which permits police officers to impersonate children online to capture people seeking to solicit or molest children.
Senate Bill 343, which establishes statewide standards for drug courts.
House Bill 1010, which increases the penalties for child exploitation from a D felony to a C felony, and raises the penalties for possession of child pornography from an A misdemeanor to a D felony.
Public Law 2001-17, which makes the penalties for methamphetamine offenses equivalent to the penalties for cocaine offenses, and increases the penalties for operating a meth lab.
House Bill 1893, which increased the jurisdiction of juvenile courts.
House Bill 1590, which helps prosecutors and custodial parents collect child support.
House Bill 1010, which requires HIV testing for persons charged with a sex crime.
In addition, Governor Frank O'Bannon appointed Mike to serve on the State's Criminal Law Study Commission, which examines Indiana's criminal laws and makes recommendations to the Indiana General Assembly.
After the 2002 legislative session, Mike Dvorak worked with local law enforcement agencies and the news media to help implement Indiana's America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Report (AMBER) Alert system in the Michiana area.
In his private law practice, Mike has practiced in the areas of criminal defense, domestic relations, real estate, and other related areas. Mike has handled many appeals to the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago. Mike is admitted to practice in the State of California (where he is on "inactive" status), Indiana, and in several federal courts: the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Indiana and the Southern District of California.
Mike and Kathy have eight children. Their oldest, Ryan, currently serves in the Indiana House of Representatives, representing House District 8. Mike has been very active in community activities, including coaching youth soccer in the Michiana Soccer Association and serving as president of his homeowners association.
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