INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 11, 2019) – The Indiana Department of Child Services announces Jim Luttrull, Jr. as its new deputy general counsel of the litigation division. Luttrull, a former prosecutor and criminal justice professor, will oversee and manage all functions of the DCS litigation department.
“I look forward to joining Director Terry Stigdon’s team and meeting the unprecedented challenges facing Indiana’s vulnerable children,” Luttrull said. “I commit to bringing all the lessons I’ve learned and skills I’ve developed to help make Indiana Department of Child Service lawyers and case managers even more effective as a team of child protection professionals.”
Luttrull will focus on reducing attorney turnover, while also advising agency lawyers who are new to working in child welfare.
“Hiring Jim is part of our commitment to strengthen our evolving litigation department,” Stigdon said. “He will be a leader, trainer, coach and mentor to the lawyers who are responsible for going into court to protect Hoosier children.”
Luttrull is a seasoned trial lawyer with 35 years’ experience, most recently as Grant County prosecutor, a position he has held since 2003. He formerly served in the same office as a deputy prosecutor and the chief deputy prosecutor since returning to Marion in 1983. Much of his work focused on the prosecution of child abuse and the training and mentoring of prosecutors, child protection workers and law enforcement officials who respond to child abuse cases.
Dave Powell, executive director of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, touted Luttrell’s prior accomplishments, including the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys’ Eugene “Shine” Feller Award for outstanding service.
“Jim is highly respected by his peers as a trial lawyer,” Powell said. “He is a tremendous choice to lead the DCS litigation department.”
Luttrull lives in Marion, Ind. with his wife of 41 years. He is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He also taught criminal justice courses at Indiana Wesleyan University for 32 years.
