Local attorney Jack C. Birch announced his candidacy for the office of Kosciusko County Circuit Court judge today.
He seeks to fill the position that will be vacated by retiring Circuit Court Judge Michael W. Reed, according to a news release provided by Birch.
Birch, a lifelong Republican, has more than 30 years of experience of practicing law in Kosciusko County. He represents business and individual clients in all types of transactions, real estate, civil litigation and criminal defense. He is certified to defend all levels of criminal cases, except murder, under the Indiana Public Defender Guidelines. Birch serves as a public defender in all criminal courts in Kosciusko County.
Throughout his career, Birch has served as judge pro tempore in Kosciusko County Courts on many occasions, the release states. Birch is also a registered civil and family mediator for both city and family law.
He practices in Syracuse with Laura Kaufman as Birch Kaufman LLC. Prior to forming Birch Kaufman LLC, Birch practiced law as a partner with Birch Law Firm LLC; Snyder, Birch & Morgan LLP, as well as Beckman Lawson LLP.
Birch is a life-long resident of the area, having grown up in Ligonier.
In 1988, he graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1988. He was awarded a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington in 1991. He has lived in Kosciusko County since graduating from law school and his admission to the bar in 1991.
He is the father of three adult children: Jackson, an Indiana University graduate and Syracuse resident; Madeline, a medical student at the IU Medical School Indianapolis; and Olivia, a May 2023 graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington.
Birch enjoys all manner of outdoor activities, supporting IU athletics and reading historical biographies, the release states.
Jack is a member and distinguished past president of Wawasee Kiwanis, served on the Board of Directors of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, as a Kosciusko County delegate to the Indiana State Bar Association, as well as a member of the Kosciusko County and Noble County Bar Associations. He is a past president of the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce and past director of the Wawasee Youth Baseball League. Birch also served on the boards of the Baker Youth Club, the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kosciusko Community Foundation and the Wawasee Building Trades.