Biography
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 hstory 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 is 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 efender in St. Joseph County while establishing a private practice. Mike resigned as a public defender in 1986 when he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives, representing House District 8.
While in the Indiana General Assembly, Mike served in various leadership roles, including Chairman of the House Rules Committee, and Chairman of the Courts and Criminal Code Committee. Mike aso served on the Judicary Committee, the Statutory Ethics Committee and the Joint Rules Committee.
In his private law practice, Mike 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 Sates District Courts for the Northern District of Indiana and the Southern District of California.
In 2002, Mike was elected to serve as Prosecutor of St. Joseph County. As Prosecutor, Mike actively manages over thirty Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys and an extensive support staff. In this current term, Mike has implemented several new programs to combat crime and been involved in several high profile cases.
Mike and Kathy have eight children. Their oldest, Ryan, currently serves as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. Mike has been very active in community activites, including coaching youth soccer in the Michiana Soccer Association and serving as president of his homeowners association.