Introduction

Jeff Cardella co-authored an amicus brief for the United States Supreme Court case Timbs v. State of Indiana, a landmark Eighth Amendment case on civil forfeiture, and he taught criminal law at Indiana University School of Law. These credentials accompany a criminal defense and expungement practice at 350 Massachusetts Ave #357, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, reachable at 317-695-7700. The office offers phone consultations seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Criminal defense in Indiana spans a wide spectrum, from misdemeanor traffic offenses to federal charges carrying mandatory minimum sentences. The Law Office of Jeff Cardella handles this entire range, representing clients in jury trials, court trials, suppression hearings, post-conviction proceedings, and appeals. The firm also handles expungement matters that allow clients to clear qualifying convictions from their records.

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense. The firm handles criminal matters across Indiana, from DUI and drug offenses to serious felony charges. Jeff Cardella has represented clients in jury trials, court trials, suppression hearings, and post-conviction relief proceedings. His experience as a former Judge pro tem in Indianapolis gives him a distinct perspective on how courts evaluate criminal cases.

Expungement. Indiana law allows qualifying individuals to have certain criminal convictions expunged from their records. Expungement restores rights that are restricted by a criminal record, including employment opportunities, housing eligibility, and professional licensing. The firm assists clients through the expungement process and represents them in the hearings required to complete it.

Forfeiture Law. Civil asset forfeiture has generated significant constitutional litigation in Indiana. Jeff Cardella filed the federal class action Washington v. Marion County Prosecutor, which challenged Indiana vehicle forfeiture statute as unconstitutional. His co-authorship of the amicus brief in Timbs v. State of Indiana, in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment Excessive Fines Clause applies to the states, reflects a practice that has engaged with forfeiture law at the highest levels.

Civil Rights Violations. The firm has handled lawsuits against the Indiana Department of Corrections and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Civil rights claims arising from constitutional violations by government actors require an attorney with both litigation experience and familiarity with the specific procedural requirements of civil rights cases in federal court.

Plea Negotiations. Not every criminal case should go to trial. Experienced negotiation of plea agreements requires knowledge of how prosecutors value cases, what the likely trial outcome would be, and what collateral consequences various plea arrangements carry. The firm handles plea negotiations across the full range of criminal matters it represents.

Probation Revocation Hearings. When a client on probation is accused of a violation, a revocation hearing can result in incarceration. These hearings have different procedural rules from criminal trials but carry serious consequences. The firm represents clients at probation revocation hearings throughout Indiana.

Attorney Profiles

Jeff Cardella is the founding attorney of the practice. He taught criminal law at Indiana University School of Law, giving him an academic foundation in criminal procedure and constitutional law that informs his practice. He served as a Judge pro tem in Indianapolis, providing direct experience with how courts evaluate evidence, credibility, and legal argument from the bench.

His recognition includes: Top 10 Law Firms in Indiana by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys; Top 10 criminal defense attorneys under age 40 by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys; Top 10 Law Firm by the American Association of Attorney Advocates; and Top 100 Attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers.

His civil rights and forfeiture work reflects a practice that extends beyond individual case representation into the systemic issues surrounding criminal law in Indiana. The federal class action and Supreme Court amicus brief demonstrate engagement with criminal law questions that affect large numbers of Indiana residents, more than individual clients.

Location and Service Area

The office is located at 350 Massachusetts Ave #357, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The firm provides criminal defense representation throughout Indiana, with cases across Indianapolis, Marion County, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Boone County, Monroe County, Madison County, Johnson County, Hancock County, and Shelby County.

The firm also represents clients in communities including Greenfield, Bloomington, Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, Lebanon, Franklin, Shelbyville, Danville, Plainfield, Anderson, and Greenwood.

Phone consultations are available seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at 317-695-7700.

More information is available at cardellalawoffice.com/

Client Focus

The firm serves Indiana residents facing criminal charges, expungement proceedings, forfeiture actions, and civil rights violations. The broad geographic coverage across Indiana reflects a practice oriented toward statewide representation rather than a single-county focus.

The phone consultation schedule, seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, acknowledges that criminal legal emergencies do not follow business hours. Clients who are arrested on weekends or late in the day need access to counsel promptly, and the firm’s consultation availability reflects that reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What geographic area does the firm serve?
The firm serves clients throughout Indiana, with representation in Indianapolis, Marion County, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Boone County, Monroe County, Madison County, Johnson County, Hancock County, Shelby County, and many surrounding communities.

When can I reach the firm for a phone consultation?
The firm offers phone consultations seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Call 317-695-7700.

Does the firm handle expungement cases?
Yes. The firm assists clients in clearing qualifying criminal convictions from their records through Indiana expungement proceedings, which can restore employment opportunities, housing eligibility, and professional licensing.

What is the Timbs v. Indiana case and how is Jeff Cardella connected?
Timbs v. State of Indiana was a U.S. Supreme Court case that held the Eighth Amendment Excessive Fines Clause applies to the states, limiting civil asset forfeiture. Jeff Cardella co-authored an amicus brief in that case, reflecting his engagement with forfeiture law at the constitutional level.

What awards has Jeff Cardella received?
Recognition includes Top 10 Law Firms by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, Top 10 criminal defense attorneys under 40 by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Top 10 by the American Association of Attorney Advocates, and Top 100 by the National Trial Lawyers.

Closing

The Law Office of Jeff Cardella combines academic legal credentials, recognized trial experience, and constitutional litigation at the Supreme Court level with a statewide criminal defense and expungement practice in Indiana. For phone consultations seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, call 317-695-7700.

Learn more at cardellalawoffice.com/