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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFuneral services will be later this week for former Lake Circuit Judge George C. Paras, who died in Gary on Friday after an illness. He was 70.
ParasParas’ tenure as circuit court judge capped 30 years of service on the Lake County trial court bench. He served as circuit judge from 2011-2016, and is likely best known for his 2014 ruling that struck down Indiana's Right to Work Law. However, the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately upheld the constitutionality of the 2012 act.
Before Paras’ judgeship, he served as a probate commissioner in Lake Circuit Court, and as a referee in Gary City Court from 1986-1996. He was the first judge to preside in Merrillville Town Court, serving in that capacity from 1996-2011.
Paras earned his law degree from Birmingham School of Law in 1980 after earning his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University in 1974. After law school, he began a personal-injury law firm before beginning his career as a jurist.
According to his obituary, Paras is survived by his wife of 25 years, Catheron A. Paras, two sons, a daughter, and grandchildren. A funeral will at 10 a.m. Thursday at SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 8000 Madison St., Merrillville. Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Wednesday at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point. Interment will be at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Gary.
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