Local attorney and Democrat Matt Soliday is announcing his candidacy for Judge of Porter Superior Court 1.

“As a trial lawyer with over 27 years of experience in both criminal and civil law, I believe that I am uniquely qualified to serve the citizens of Porter County as Judge,” Soliday said in a statement released this week. “My jury trial experience in both civil and criminal cases has given me the insight and wisdom to serve all parties that come before the court. Also, having served as both a former deputy prosecuting attorney and public defender, I am familiar with both sides of the criminal justice system and understand the need for fairness and justice in our criminal courts.”

Soliday is a lifelong resident of Porter County and a graduate of Valparaiso High School. After graduating in 1989 from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Soliday earned his law degree in 1992 from Valparaiso University School of Law.

Over his 27-year career as an attorney, Soliday has served as a Porter County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and subsequently as a Deputy Porter County Public Defender. In addition, he was elected to serve a term as President of the Porter County Bar Association and he is currently a member of the Porter County Inns of Court.

Soliday was also engaged in the private practice of law as an associate attorney with law firm of Rice and Rice in Portage and later opened his own practice in Valparaiso. In addition, Soliday has served as attorney for the Porter County Animal Board and is currently a staff attorney with the non-profit Northern District of Indiana Federal Community Defenders Office Inc.

Soliday has argued cases before the Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Court of Appeals, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and formerly taught as an adjunct professor at the Valparaiso University School of Law.

Soliday has volunteered as well at the Valparaiso Family YMCA and has been named Volunteer of the Year, is a mentor in the Boys to Men program through Our Greater Good, was the co-founder and director of the Valparaiso Triathlon, and currently sits on the Porter County Tourism Board.