Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Appointed By: Gov. Eric J. Holcomb

Biography

The Hon. Dakota R. VanLeeuwen is a judge for the Morgan County Superior Court in Indiana. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Eric Holcomb on December 29, 2022, filling a vacancy created by the elevation of the Hon. Peter R. Foley to the Indiana Court of Appeals.


Prior to her appointment, VanLeeuwen was an attorney in private practice in Martinsville. She worked in that capacity since 2018, supplementing her practice with service as a public defender in Morgan, Vigo, and Clay Counties.


VanLeeuwen earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington. She then completed a J.D. at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. As a student, VanLeeuwen worked as a law enforcement officer with the Indiana University Police Department.


After graduating from law school, VanLeeuwen began her legal career as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

Recent Cases by Hon. Dakota R. VanLeeuwen

On February 4, 2026 em - estate, miscellaneous case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

2 Files
Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

02/06/2026 , Decided

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

EM - Estate, Miscellaneous

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Estate Administration

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 06, 2026

On January 17, 2026 a dn - domestic relations without children case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Jan 17, 2026

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

DN - Domestic Relations without Children

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 21, 2026

On December 29, 2025 a dc - domestic relations with children case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 29, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

DC - Domestic Relations with Children

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 30, 2025

On December 29, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 29, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 01, 2026

On December 29, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 29, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 31, 2025

On December 29, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 29, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 30, 2025

On December 16, 2025 a pl - civil plenary case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

9 Files
Filed

Dec 16, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

PL - Civil Plenary

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 20, 2025

On December 12, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 12, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 16, 2025

On December 12, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 12, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 16, 2025

On December 10, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 10, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2025

On December 10, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 10, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2025

On December 5, 2025 a cb - foreign judgment case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 05, 2025

Status

Judgment (Other)

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

CB - Foreign Judgment

Practice Area

Creditor

Matter Type

Judgment Enforcement

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 09, 2025

On December 4, 2025 a gv - grandparent visitation case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 04, 2025

Status

Transfer

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GV - Grandparent Visitation

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Custody,Visitation

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 05, 2025

On December 4, 2025 a gv - grandparent visitation case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Dec 04, 2025

Status

Transfer

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GV - Grandparent Visitation

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Custody,Visitation

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 06, 2025

On November 19, 2025 a dn - domestic relations without children case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Nov 19, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

DN - Domestic Relations without Children

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 21, 2025

On November 4, 2025 a cb - foreign judgment case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Nov 04, 2025

Status

Judgment (Other)

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

CB - Foreign Judgment

Practice Area

Creditor

Matter Type

Judgment Enforcement

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 05, 2025

On November 4, 2025 a mi - miscellaneous civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

1 File
Filed

Nov 04, 2025

Status

11/06/2025 , Decided

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

MI - Miscellaneous Civil

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 08, 2025

On November 3, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Nov 03, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 05, 2025

On October 29, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Oct 29, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 31, 2025

On October 29, 2025 a dc - domestic relations with children case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Oct 29, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

DC - Domestic Relations with Children

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 01, 2025

On October 27, 2025 a gu - guardianship case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge VanLeeuwen, Dakota presiding.

Filed

Oct 27, 2025

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. VanLeeuwen, Dakota Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for VanLeeuwen, Dakota

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

GU - Guardianship

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

Guardianship,Conservatorship

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 30, 2025

On October 20, 2025 a mc - reinstatement waiver case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

1 File
Filed

Oct 20, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

MC - Reinstatement Waiver

Practice Area

Administrative

Matter Type

Licensing

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 22, 2025

On October 14, 2025 a dn - domestic relations without children case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

Filed

Oct 14, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

DN - Domestic Relations without Children

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 17, 2025

On October 8, 2025 a tp - verified petition for issuance of a tax deed case was filed in the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Judge Dakota R. VanLeeuwen presiding.

4 Files
Filed

Oct 08, 2025

Status

Active

Court

Morgan County

County

Morgan County, IN

Court Category

TP - Verified Petition for Issuance of a Tax Deed

Practice Area

Tax

Matter Type

General Tax

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 12, 2025