Lawyer Josiah Swinney
Criminal Attorney, Forfeiture Lawyer, Appeals &
Personal Injury, Indianapolis, Indiana LLC


Call me directly at 317-753-7134‬
for a free consultation.

When facing high-stakes legal battles in Indiana, Attorney Josiah Swinney stands out as the litigator of choice. If your are seeking exceptional legal representation, Josiah delivers expertise in jury trials, court trials, suppression hearings, appeals, complex forfeiture disputes, expungement and personal injury cases involving death or serious bodily injury.

Josiah provides focused litigation strategy, unparalleled dedication, meticulous preparation, and a relentless commitment to securing favorable outcomes in Indiana’s most challenging legal battles.

If you are in need of a serious litigator for a criminal defense matter, criminal appeal, forfeiture case, or personal injury claim, call Josiah Swinney to discuss your case. Josiah Swinney practices in the entire state of Indiana, including Marion County, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Boone County, Monroe County, Madison County, Johnson County, Hancock County, Shelby County, Greenfield, Bloomington, Noblesville, Carmel, and Fishers.

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About Josiah Swinney

Awards for Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney and Personal Injury Lawyer Josiah Swinney

Josiah Swinney Criminal Defense Attorney, Forfeiture Lawyer, Appeals Attorney & Personal Injury Lawyer in Indianapolis & Indiana
With over 60 years of combined litigation experience, Josiah Swinney’s team of attorneys guides individuals through complex litigation. Across state and federal courts, Mr. Swinney leads the Personal Injury, Federal Civil Forfeiture, and White Collar Defense Practice. Josiah’s office handles criminal defense litigation, civil defense litigation, appeals, and catastrophic personal injury cases involving death or severe bodily injury. Josiah was recognized by Super Lawyers® in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. Josiah has been recognized as a Top 100 Trial Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Josiah’s oral arguments and written advocacy have received a commendation from the Chief Judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals. Josiah has also been named a Top Attorney Rising Star in Indiana by Indianapolis Monthly. Josiah has been featured in major news outlets, including Bloomberg

In the Indiana Supreme Court, Mr. Swinney successfully litigated the conviction of a police officer, Thomas Jackson, who had been accused of raping a woman with an intellectual disability. See Jackson v. State, 145 N.E.3d 783 (Ind. 2020) (affirming in relevant part Jackson v. State, 19A-CR-796 (Ind. Ct. App. Dec. 31, 2019)). Swinney successfully defended the Putnam County Prosecutor in the dismissal of the following claims: trespass, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, invasion of privacy, false arrest, false imprisonment, improper confinement, emotional distress, and defamation. Buchanan v. State, 122 N.E.3d 969, 971 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). Mr. Swinney also successfully litigated a criminal matter in which a trained boxer was alleged to have intentionally beaten a two-year-old child to death. Vanryn v. State, 155 N.E.3d 1254 (Ind. Ct. App. 2020). Other high-profile cases include a case where a man was accused of murdering an Indianapolis woman and shooting another man, as well as a triple murder in which a teenager was accused of killing three of his friends. Woodcock v. State, 163 N.E.3d 863 (Ind. Ct. App. 2021); Pinkston v. State, 20A-CR-2216 (Ind. Ct. App. 2021). Click the following link to read more about Josiah Swinney's wins in the Indiana Court of Appeals.

A graduate with honors from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Josiah launched his career working under Solicitor General Thomas M. Fisher. During this time, Josiah wrote briefs for multiple cases litigated before the Supreme Court of the United States (including matters that advanced to oral argument) and advised the Indiana Attorney General on strategic multi-state litigation. His exceptional performance led to his appointment as Deputy Attorney General, where he served with distinction.

Josiah’s practice area spans successful complex regulatory investigations of insurance companies to securing safety for the target of a terrorist organization. Swinney has secured six-figure judgments for clients and protected businesses facing allegations of securities fraud. Josiah also secured an outright dismissal of a murder charge. Josiah Swinney has a track record of fighting for his clients and achieving outstanding results.*

Karen Collins Criminal Defense Attorney, Forfeiture Lawyer, Appeals Attorney & Personal Injury Lawyer in Indianapolis & central Indiana
In 1993, Karen Laine Collins began her career in criminal law in Indianapolis, Indiana representing clients in both State and Federal Court. Over the last 30+ years as a dedicated criminal defense attorney, she has taken countless trials to verdict and freed clients from long periods of incarceration. Karen rose through the ranks at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, spending years prosecuting major felonies and heinous sex crimes, honing her deep understanding of the criminal justice system. This prosecutorial experience sharpened her trial skills before she transitioned to elite defense work, where she now fiercely advocates for the accused.
As a seasoned criminal defense lawyer, she has represented private clients in high-stakes criminal jury trials and complex civil matters. She now focuses her practice on major felony trial work, Section 1983 civil rights litigation, and vigorously defending clients against unconstitutional government actions. Karen is highly respected for her aggressive courtroom presence, successful trial wins, and expertise in dismissing cases under the Fourth Amendment’s protection from unreasonable searches and seizures — skills built over decades as both a former prosecutor and accomplished criminal attorney. When Karen joined Josiah Swinney in 2025 to restart her full-time criminal defense practice, multiple national news outlets reported on the two joining forces, highlighting her return to protecting constitutional rights in criminal cases. For more on her professional background as a lawyer with over 30 years of experience, view her profile on LinkedIn, where colleagues praise her trial prowess and prosecutorial insight. You can also find Karen Laine Collins (formerly Karen E. Laine) on HBO Max, where she hosted Good Bones for nine seasons. Although she has never stopped litigating, Karen spent her spare time filming the show in the Indianapolis area and donating back to her community. Karen’s performances for audiences of millions further refined her ability to control the courtroom and convey complex arguments to judges and juries across the State of Indiana.
She holds a J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (class of 1992), where she has been recognized as a notable alumna for her extensive work as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. Recent coverage of her 2025 career shift back to full-time criminal law further underscores her commitment — see details in articles from EntertainmentNow and other outlets emphasizing her expertise in defending clients charged with crimes.

Call Lawyer Josiah Swinney for a free consultation.

317-753-7134

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Call Attorney Josiah Swinney for a free consultation.

317-771-9563

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Phone: 317-753-7134

Email: Josiah@DefenseLawIndiana.com

Address: 951 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202

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* The cases referred to above are factually accurate re-creations of past cases. These factually accurate re-creations are not intended to predict, imply, or guarantee future success. I can not guarantee a particular result in any case.

The Indiana Expungement Law Guide