Attorney Martin McCloskey's focus is on helping you with your legal problems. The law firm offers affordable, high quality legal representation in areas of Traffic Tickets, DUI's, Divorce, Custody, Child Support, Paternity, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury/Accidents and other legal issues.
Call today for your free initial consultation. 1-574-370-2412.

MMcCloskeyLaw@aol.com

English

McCloskey Law Offices normally operates in Northern Indiana in the following counties: Elkhart, St. Joseph, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, and Marshall.
We also provide service in Lake and Fulton counties on a case to case basis. We will on occasion do work outside these areas.

If in doubt call: 1-574-370-2412 as there is no charge for the initial phone consultation.

Indiana

Auto Accidents
Criminal Defense
DUI / DWI Traffic
Divorce, Marriage, Alimony
Child Custody, Support, Adoption
General Practice
Small Claims
Personal Injury

Martin A. McCloskey background includes being a member of the United States Air Force where he received numerous commendations. Martin was also a police officer for almost nine years then went on to be elected one of three Elkhart County Commissioners. Not one to sit on his laurels, Martin, during the time that he was working as County Commissioner attended and graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.


The McCloskey Law Offices Mission Statement is as follows:

The McCloskey Law Firm is dedicated and committed to the jury system and to representing and obtaining justice for individuals; the poor, the injured, the forgotten, the voiceless, the defenseless and the damned, and to protecting the rights of such people from corporate and government oppression.

In all of its activities, the McCloskey Law Firm will foster and nourish an open atmosphere of representing and caring for people regardless of their race, age, creed, religion, national origin, political affiliation, physical abilities, sexual orientation or gender.

The McCloskey Law Firm will serve the client, to the best of our abilities, with due diligence and zealousness to protect each person’s rights.

(for further information about Martin see "Personal Notes" under the "Personal Achievements" tab)

Indiana University of South Bend (IUSB)
Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)

Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

May 2006 (Indiana)

State Courts
Indiana Supreme Court
Federal Court - Both Northern and Southern Districts

Indiana

Indiana Bar Association
Elkhart City Bar
St. Joseph County Bar Association

Millennium Member - National Rifle Association (NRA)
Republican National Committee Life Member

Martin has and continues to do pro bono work but it is on a limited and case to case basis.

Martin A. McCloskey background includes serving his country faithfully as member of the United States Air Force where he received numerous commendations, medal and ribbons.
Martin was also served his community as police officer for almost nine years and then went on to be elected one of three County Commissioners. Not one to sit on his laurels, Martin, attended and graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan while performing his duties as County Commissioner.

Martin began heading toward becoming an attorney-at-law, even though he didn’t know it at the time, because in 1996 Martin was on the receiving end of a political vendetta by being terminated from the Elkhart City Police Department because of false, defamatory and inflammatory allegations after he publicly supported the Republican nominee for mayor of Elkhart who was running against the Democrat nominee incumbent mayor in November 1995 AND after Martin filed for and announced his own candidacy, in January 1996, for Elkhart County Commissioner on the Republican ticket.
In October 1995 McCloskey was called into the police chief’s office and was told to either support the Democrat incumbent mayor or give up his sergeant stripes. When Martin stated he would do neither, the police chief stated that they were going to get rid of him (terminate his employment).
The Republican nominee for mayor and McCloskey both lost their elections and true to their word. Martin was terminated. It was at this point in time when Martin learned that Indiana is an at-will state with regard to employment. You can quit or be terminated for just about any reason, even if it is made up.
There were not any criminal or formal charges against Martin, only false allegations which was handled by the mayoral political appointed police chief and the mayoral political appointed 3 member Board of Safety, all of whom were of the same political affiliation as the mayor. In 2001 one of the members of the Board of Safety stated that Martin’s termination was “all political and not personal” and that he was terminated because McCloskey supported the Republican candidate for mayor of Elkhart and that Martin ran for County Commissioner as a Republican while he was still a Sergeant with the police department. The board member also stated that had he of known then what he knew now that he would not have voted to terminate Martin.

The 1996 police chief requested from the prosecutor on two occasions that he file formal charges against Martin. After the matter was thoroughly investigated by the prosecuting attorney's office and the Elkhart County Prosecutor, Michael Cosentino, they determined and found that the allegations were totally unfounded and the prosecutor’s office refused to file anything.

McCloskey said of his termination, "It's at times like that when I'm glad for the way I was raised, because when my test came and my feet were held to the fire, I simply could not sacrifice principle for career. I did the right thing and held my ground." Martin did not cave in under pressure and he stood firmly for what he believed in. Martin McCloskey carries on that same integrity and dedication when he works for his clients.

While Martin McCloskey respects the opinion of a few doubters as everyone has a right to their opinion, it should be noted that while McCloskey lost in the Republican primary in 1996 (placing a close second out of a five man race), McCloskey ran again and won the election in 2000. Martin was endorsed by: the Elkhart Fraternal Order of Police; David Miller, the new Mayor of Elkhart; Michael Cosentino, Elkhart County Prosecutor; as well as an Elkhart County Commissioner; an Elkhart County Councilman; and an Elkhart City Councilman amongst many others who were highly respected in the Elkhart community. These individuals endorsed Martin McCloskey when he ran for and was elected Elkhart County Commissioner in 2000 based on his credibility, integrity and character.

The local newspaper with whom McCloskey did not get along with declared open season on Martin and printed inflammatory and false material including some from unnamed and anonymous people. McCloskey also believes that the opinion of a few who did not know him was far outweighed by those who knew him individually; which was evidenced by McCloskey's ultimate victory in his election by the citizen's of Elkhart County.

While Martin was County Commissioner he was the only commissioner who voted against any tax increase including the wheel tax and McCloskey took the lead in placing a historical display which included the 10 Commandments in the County Administration building. The display was challenged in Court as being unconstitutional and on Appeal the Order of the Court was that the Historical Display along with the 10 Commandments was Constitutional and was allowed to remain in place.

Even thought Martin McCloskey is a believer in moving on and addressing the issues of today, not the political vendettas, rumors, and allegations of “yesteryear” he worked to correct the city’s political powerhouse and was instrumental in helping to unseat the incumbent mayor. When the four term incumbent mayor lost his re-election campaign in 1999, the police chief was fired and the board of safety replaced. Martin is an example of how one can overcome extreme hardship, overcome false allegations, take what life hands you and progress forward.

Martin has experienced if not seen much of what his clients are going through and The McCloskey Law Offices Mission Statement sets in perspective what Martin believes and practices which is as follows:

The McCloskey Law Firm is dedicated and committed to the jury system and to representing and obtaining justice for individuals; the poor, the injured, the forgotten, the voiceless, the defenseless and the damned, and to protecting the rights of such people from corporate and government oppression.

In all of its activities, the McCloskey Law Firm will foster and nourish an open atmosphere of representing and caring for people regardless of their race, age, creed, religion, national origin, political affiliation, physical abilities, sexual orientation or gender.
The McCloskey Law Firm will serve the client, to the best of our abilities, with due diligence and zealousness to protect each person’s rights.

County Commissioner
Police Officer
United States Air Force

United States Air Force