Meet John D. Ulmer
Indiana House of Representatives: 1998-Present
House District 49: Elkhart County
Committees:
Natural Resources, Ranking Republican Member
Courts and Criminal Code
Judiciary
Address: 130 North Main St., Goshen, IN 46526-0575
Telephone:
800-382-9841 (State House)
574-533-1171 (In District)
Occupation: Senior Partner-Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham
Representative John Ulmer has been a member of the Indiana House of Representatives for District 49 since 1998. He is currently the ranking member on the Natural Resource Committee and a member of the Courts and Criminal Code and Judiciary committees.
During the 2007 legislative session, John authored House Enrolled Act 1192. This law requires notification of underground storage tank leaks to the public in the surrounding area of the spill. This legislation will require the Department of Environmental Management to notify a county health official if there has been a spill, release, or overfill of an underground storage tank. Rep. Ulmer first became aware of this problem after a class action lawsuit was filed against a local gas station. An underground storage tank at the gas station leaked and had caused some problems for neighboring homes and businesses. The gas station, although they knew about the leak, never notified their neighbors that a leak had occurred or that it may cause problems.
In addition, John co-authored HEA 1299, which reduces the minimum age requirement for a senior fishing license from 65 to 64 years of age. This act also will establish a resident senior yearly license to fish at an annual cost of $3 instead of $8.75. Finally, it will establish a resident senior "fish for life" license at a cost of $17 dollars. Under the current system, federal funding from excise taxes on fishing equipment and boat fuel are distributed to states based in part on the number of fishing licenses they issue. Issuing licenses to seniors will increase federal funding to Indiana’s waterways, while still allowing future seniors the option of a “fish for life” license.
In 2006 John worked on legislation to protect children. HEA 1155, which Rep. Ulmer co-authored, increases restrictions and penalties on convicted child molesters in the state. Individuals, at least 18 years of age, who are convicted of child molestation must be placed on lifetime parole and are required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring device during probation. During the 2007 session, John continued to play a large role in child protection laws by co-authoring HEA 1386. This legislation adds promoting prostitution, human and sexual trafficking of a minor, and possession of child pornography crimes to the sex offender registry. HEA 1386 specifies that registration as a sex offender is not required for a person convicted of a sexual misconduct with a minor if the person is not more than four years older than the victim and was in a relationship with the individual at the time of the act. In addition, HEA 1386 would make the promotion of prostitution a Class B felony, which is punishable by 6-20 years in prison.
During the 2006 legislative session, John co-authored House Enrolled Act 1010, which provided property owners more protection from eminent domain. In addition, Rep. Ulmer co-authored HEA 1013 that created the new “In God We Trust” license plates and HEA 1028, which allows citizens to protect themselves without first having to retreat in order to protect their home, property, or car.
Rep. Ulmer is a partner at Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer, & Buckingham, LLP. His practice areas include general trial practice, personal injury litigation, and insurance defense litigation.
Rep. Ulmer received his B.A. from Michigan State University in 1960, with honors, and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. He earned his J.D. from Indiana University in 1963, with distinction.
He is a member of the Order of Coif, and was on the Board of Editors for the Indiana Law Journal from 1961-1963.
Rep. Ulmer is a proficient author and lecturer. His speaking accomplishments include presentations at the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum. He has also written the following articles:
* “The New Law on Wrongful Death,” 1999
* “Constructive Cross Examination,” 1995
* “Insurance and Third Party Investigation Files,” 1988
* “Objections to Misconduct of Counsel” and “Objections During Closing Arguments,” 1983
He served as State Chair for the American College of Trial Lawyers from 1998-2000, as a faculty member at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy from 1982-1983, as Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Ford-Pinto Trial in 1980, and as the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Elkhart County from 1965-1969.
Rep. Ulmer is a member of the Goshen City, Indiana, and the American Bar Associations, as well as the Indiana Trial Lawyers of America and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has served on the Board of Directors of ITLA since 1987. From 1993-1994, Rep. Ulmer served as Chairman of the Civil Rights Law Committee for the Indiana State Bar Association, and from 1980-1982 he was a member of the Board of Managers for the Indiana State Bar Association. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his expertise in business litigation and personal injury litigation.
John currently resides in Goshen with his wife Carole. They have four children, Natalie, Chris, Kathy, and Greta. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church.