partner & Attorney

Charles Hayes

A native of Northern Indiana, Charles graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Later that year, he began his studies at the Indiana University, Bloomington Maurer School of Law, earning his degree in May 2003. After law school, he spent seven years as an attorney with the Marion County Public Defender Agency, dedicating the last five exclusively to handling major felony cases. During this time, he litigated numerous jury trials involving charges ranging from murder and sex offenses to high-level drug crimes.

In April 2011, he joined Sweeney Law as an associate before becoming a founding partner in Sweeney Hayes LLC in January 2014, which later evolved into Hayes Ruemmele LLC. Since joining the firm, he has continued to actively try jury cases in both federal and state courts throughout Indiana.His trial successes include securing not guilty verdicts on major felony charges such as attempted murder, rape, molestation, robbery, firearm possession by a felon, and drug dealing, as well as acquittals on lesser charges like theft and narcotics possession. Beyond criminal defense, he has represented victims of abuse in state and federal courts and individuals in Title IX cases at universities across Indiana.

A graduate of the inaugural National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) White Collar College at Stetson University in 2012 and the Indiana Public Defender Council Trial Institute, he brings exceptional training to his practice. He is licensed to practice law in all Indiana counties, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Middle District of Tennessee, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.