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Ken Elwood named chief public defender
NWI Times
Nov 10, 2010
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/ken-elwood-named-chief-public-defender/article_f07b5529-7d16-5c04-8dcf-dfb9c898bdd3.html
VALPARAISO | Attorney Ken Elwood was named Tuesday as Porter County's new chief public defender.
Elwood, who has served in the public defender office since 2003, replaces James Tsoutsouris, who died Sept. 29.
"It's an absolute honor to be selected," said 41-year-old Elwood, who was chosen by the county's judges out of four applicants.
Elwood will oversee 14 attorneys, who he said end up representing more than half of those charged with crimes and are unable to afford legal representation.
The chief's post pays $53,515 a year and the department's annual budget is $628,831.
Tsoutsouris died two days after collapsing from a heart attack on his way out of the downtown courthouse.
Elwood said Tsoutsouris did a fine job as chief public defender. He plans to meet with each of the county's six judges to see if any changes are suggested, in addition to speaking with all the public defenders.
Elwood said he will have time for the new responsibilities, in addition to continuing to work as a public defender and carry out criminal and personal injury work with his Rhame & Elwood law firm located in Portage and Valparaiso. His law firm also represents most of city government in Portage, along with the Porter County Council, Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
Porter Superior Judge Roger Bradford, who serves as judicial liaison to the public defender's office, said all four applicants well qualified and the final choice was difficult.
Elwood is only the county's second chief public defender. Tsoutsouris created the office in 1970 and served at the helm until his death.
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