Denise Laureen Turner - an Indianapolis, Indiana (IN) Criminal Defense Lawyer

Indianapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Criminal Defense

Attorney Information

Overview

"The first time I saw my brother brought into juvenile court in handcuffs, I decided I would be the best lawyer I could be."

Denise has been helping those accused of crimes since graduating in 2010 from George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. She started her legal career at the Marion County Public Defender Agency, where she handled criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors, such as public intoxication and OVWIs, to major felonies, including robbery, burglary, rape, and murder.

Denise went into private practice in 2017, and expanded her practice to include areas outside of Marion County, and other areas of the law, including appeals, expungements, and sentence modifications. She is certified to handle death penalty cases and she was appointed to the federal CJA panel in 2020 where she represents indigent clients charged in federal court.

During her time at GW Law, she focused on criminal law and trial skills. Denise was the Vice-President of Internal Mock Trials on the Mock Trial Board and has continued to serve as a mock trial judge for high school and undergraduate mock trial competitions sponsored by the Indiana Bar Foundation. Denise also volunteers with the IndyBar helping law students prepare for the bar exam.

Having been on the other side, Denise knows how difficult an arrest can be on the person charged and their families. "I've been the one calling and paying for lawyers. I've posted bonds for my brother. I know what that's like; which is open, and honest communication with my clients and their families is very important to me."

She is licensed in Indiana and her home state of Florida. Just in case her brother ever needs her.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Denise Laureen Turner included in a Super Lawyers® list

Other Sources of Feedback About Denise Laureen Turner

Included on the 2023 Indiana Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- George Washington University Law School, Washington, District of Columbia, May, 2010
  Juris Doctor
Non Legal Education
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, December, 2006
  Master of Science in Management
- DeVry Institute, 2004
  Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
  Honors: summa cum laude

Classes and Seminars

Indiana Public Defender Council Trial Practice Institute, 2011
National Criminal Defense Council Trial Practice Institute, 2013
Paula Sites Capital Defense Seminar, 2017
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and California Public Defenders Association Capital Case Defense Seminar, February 2018
Bryan R. Schechmeister Death Penalty College, 2018
Federal CJA Trial Skills Academy, 2018
Annual Death Penalty Seminar – Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2019
Paula Sites Capital Defense Seminar, 2021

Be the first to write a review!

There are currently no reviews for Denise Laureen Turner. Be the first to share your experience.

Write a Review

Contact

Indianapolis, IN

333 N Alabama St
Suite 350-325
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Directions

Phone: 317-868-5916

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.dturnerlegal.com

Credit Cards Accepted
Free Consultations

Disclaimer

Your Profile? Update Now

When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.

How do I choose a lawyer?

Consider the following:

Comfort Level – Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
Credentials – How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
Cost – How are the lawyer's fees structured — hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
City – Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?

Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?

Here are a few to get you started:

How long have you been in practice?
How many cases like mine have you handled?
How often do you settle cases out of court?
What are your fees and costs?
What are the next steps?

Want to check lawyer discipline?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:

Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.

Denise Laureen Turner - Indianapolis, IN