11102010 - News Article - Elwood becomes second public defender for county

Elwood becomes second public defender for county
Post-Tribune (IN)
November 10, 2010
www.newsbank.com

VALPARAISO -- Porter County has a new chief public defender.

Ken Elwood accepted the position Tuesday morning, although Porter County's six judges made the decision Monday night at their monthly meeting.

Elwood agreed to the terms of a two-year contract that the judges will draw up this week, but he'll begin immediately, replacing James Tsoutsouris, who died Sept. 29.

"It's quite an honor to be the second public defender in Porter County, and to follow a guy like Jim Tsoutsouris is quite an honor," Elwood said.

Elwood worked under Tsoutsouris as a public defender since 2003 and graduated from the Valparaiso University Law School in 1994 and Portage High School in 1987.

"I enjoy being a public defender. I consider it a service to the community," Elwood said. "I think the indigent people deserve just as good a quality defense as those with private attorneys."

Elwood said he might make incremental changes as public defender, but Tsoutsouris, who held the office since 1970, did a good job and "the public defender staff is one of the best in the state."

The judges were silent about the selection process and the candidates until Tuesday.

"There were four and they were all very well-qualified. But Ken was the best," said Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford, the judicial liaison for the public defender's office.

"There were some discussions on the various candidates and it ended up a unanimous decision," Bradford said.

Elwood wasn't officially named public defender until he agreed to some

terms.Those were that he remain apolitical in hirings and "that he not be involved in politics to the extent that he was in the past," Bradford said.

Elwood, a registered Democrat, declined to speak directly about his political work but said, "whatever the wishes of the judges are, I will comply."