DR. JOHN STARBUCK, Lafayette, is the founder of Starbuck Law Firm, LLC, located in Lafayette, Indiana. Starbuck focuses his legal practice in the areas of family, criminal, and personal injury. Starbuck earned a Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology) from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis in 2005, a Master’s degree (Anthropology) in 2009, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Biological Anthropology) in 2012 from Pennsylvania State University. Starbuck then obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2022 from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Starbuck was a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in the Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics, a Visiting Lecturer for Indiana University Northwest, and an Assistant Professor for four years at the University of Central Florida. After becoming licensed to practice in 2022, Starbuck began working as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, focusing on juvenile delinquency and child support. He later worked as an Associate Attorney for Kightlinger and Gray in the firm’s insurance defense section. In addition to his duties with Starbuck Law Firm, Starbuck works with the Tippecanoe County Public Defender’s Office.
Pursuant to I.C. 33-27-2-8(b)(4), Starbuck submits the following statement concerning his efforts and achievements towards the improvement of the administration of justice:
I am a former Anthropology Professor and current Attorney. I have worked towards a just legal system focusing on interdisciplinary solutions to social problems and fair representation. I have worked on numerous committees. I have an understanding of complex interrelationships between culture, biology, history, and the legal system as informed by an advanced social science education and extensive evidence-based research on humans and biomedical health. I have a blended background combining a unique appreciation for human diversity with legal expertise allowing for competent evaluation of existing legal frameworks. This results in a more nuanced and fair application of legal principles. I have improved the administration of Indiana justice by serving in both prosecutorial and defense roles. As a Cass County Prosecutor, I focused on ensuring that financial obligations to children were met while concentrating on accountability and rehabilitation in juvenile law to reduce juvenile delinquency recidivism. As a Tippecanoe County Public Defender, I worked on Children in Need of Services (CHINS), Termination of Parental Rights (TPR), and Appellate cases by safeguarding parental rights, defending fundamental family integrity rights, advocating for equitable treatment, and protecting the best interests of children by ensuring family access to services that maximize the likelihood of family reunification.