Top Best Criminal Defense Lawyers | 14772 Available

Isaiah joined Thorwaldsen & Malmstrom, P.L.L.P in November 2016. Isaiah focuses his practice on criminal, family, and civil litigation. Isaiah also represents the State of Minnesota as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the City of Mahnomen.. Isaiah is a graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law and was involved in various organizations and activities. While there, Isaiah participated in Moot Court, served as the President of Student Trial Lawyers Association, Commencement Committee Chair, Orientation Leader, and Delta Theta Phi member.. After law school, Isaiah served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Judge Jay D. Carlson in Becker County. Isaiah is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and North Dakota courts.. In his spare time, Isaiah enjoys playing a variety of sports, spending time outdoors fishing and hunting, reading, and enjoying the company of family and friends.

i have been committed to defending the rights of people charged with a crime for over 18 years.  I have a reputation for excellence in the area of criminal defense, defined by an aggressive and innovative approach to the interpretation of various criminal laws in the state of Minnesota.  I provide a service to my clients that not only involves a vigorous defense but also gives personal attention and compassion.

Charles Clas gained considerable experience in criminal law before he even graduated from law school. He participated in the Misdemeanor Prosecution Clinic at the University of Minnesota School of Law, and served as an instructor and member of the Civil Rights National Moot Court team. Charles also worked as a law clerk at Caplan & Tamburino Law Firm, P.A. before joining the firm as a full time attorney in 2014. Charles has successfully tried many criminal cases for the firm, such as marijuana possession, DWI, felony expungement, and 3rd degree assault. If you need experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense you can count on, call Charles Clas today!

Kurt began his career prosecuting gang-related gun and drug offenses in Detroit, Michigan. Criminal law has been the focus of his career since entering private practice in 1992. He has served a City Attorney for a variety of cities in the Twin Cities. Kurt honed his skills by working “both sides of the fence” as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. As a defense attorney, he has had many high profile cases and primarily works in Federal court. A feature of his professional history is his distinguished service to the U.S. District Court, which has reappointed him annually to the Criminal Justice Act Panel since 1998 to serve the Court in complex criminal litigation. Kurt has appeared in criminal matters before the Minnesota Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and regularly appears before the United States Court of Appeals.

Rick primarily practices in the areas of Criminal/DUI Defense and Personal Injury Law.. Rick is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a licensed attorney in Arizona, North Dakota and Minnesota. During law school Mr. Sand interned for the Alaska Department of Administration’s Office of Public Advocacy. While at the Office of Public Advocacy Mr. Sand advocated for indigent clients accused of criminal offenses within the Municipality of Anchorage. He has also worked with the Arizona Justice Project in an effort to help inmates overturn wrongful convictions and has worked as contract counsel for the North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents.. Mr. Sand has been a coach for Special Olympics since 2008, coaching a variety of sports and volunteering for the 2009 Special Olympics Winter World Games in Boise, Idaho.. In his spare time, Mr. Sand enjoys hunting and fishing as well as spending time outdoors.

Mark's primary practice area is criminal law. Additionally, Mark practices in general litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mark was a law clerk to the Honorable Dale V. Sandstrom of the North Dakota Supreme Court. Mark received undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Social/Behavioral Sciences from Bismarck State College and the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. He received his law degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.. Mark was a Bismarck police officer for over 5 years. As an officer, he performed numerous additional duties, including: field and recruit training; membership on the tactical team and bomb disposal team; and chemical test operator. Mark has trained law enforcement officers at seminars conducted throughout the United States. Mark also teaches law-related topics at North Dakota State University in Fargo and the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks. He frequently speaks for criminal justice organizations across the state.. Mark retired from the North Dakota Army National Guard after serving for over 24 years, holding numerous positions, including platoon leader, executive officer, detachment commander, company commander, battalion staff, assistant staff judge advocate and state judge advocate.. Mark is a charter member and former Secretary of the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Since 2010, Mark has served as the District of North Dakota Criminal Justice Act Panel Representative.

Adam Justinger recognizes that some of the most difficult times in an individual’s life is when they have been charged with a crime. As a criminal defense attorney for SW&L Attorneys, Adam vigorously defends his clients and strives to get his clients the best possible outcome in their case.. What Made Adam Want to Practice Criminal Defense. During his first year of law school, Adam was unsure of what area of law he wanted to practice. At the end of his first year, Adam accepted a law clerk position with a criminal defense firm in Grand Forks, North Dakota. During his two years as a law clerk, Adam found his passion doing criminal defense law. After clerking, Adam was hired by SW&L Attorneys to practice in the area of criminal defense and has decided to focus his career on the defense of people accused of crimes.. Educational Background. Adam attended the University of North Dakota  and received a degree in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration. After graduation, Adam enrolled in law school at the University of North Dakota School of Law and earned his law degree in 2018.. During law school, Adam was very active. Adam’s greatest passion while in law school was participating in mock cases to perfect his oral advocacy skills. Adam participated in Moot Court during his second and third year of law school. During the internal Moot Court competition, Adam and his team partner received the best brief award. This allowed Adam the opportunity to advance to external Moot Court during his second and third year. During Adam’s second year of law school, Adam traveled to Las Vegas, NV to compete in the Frank A. Schreck Gaming Law Moot Court Competition. During Adam’s third year of law school, he traveled to Saint Paul, MN and competed in the McGee Moot Court Competition. Adam and his team partner advanced to the semifinal round. As a result of his success in Moot Court, Adam was accepted into the Order of the Barristers (awarded for oral advocacy and brief writing skills). Adam joined the the Energy Law Association his first year of law school and became the President during his second and third year. Furthermore, Adam was the secretary of the Student Bar Association during his second year, and the vice president of the organization during his third year. Additionally, Adam was a member of the Criminal Law Association and the Sports Law Association.. Personal Background. Adam was born and raised in Kimberly, Wisconsin by his mother who taught him the importance of an education. At age five, Adam looked at his mother and told her that he wanted to be an attorney because he enjoyed arguing. Although that has always been Adam’s dream, he began working for his grandparents construction business, which taught him the importance of hardwork, and communication. Even though Adam enjoyed working construction, he never forgot about his goal of becoming an attorney and went on to receive his law degree in 2018. In his spare time, Adam enjoys traveling/spending time with his girlfriend, hunting and fishing, socializing with family and friends, listening to music, and cooking.. Bar Admissions. Admitted to practice in North Dakota since 2018, Bar ID number 08635Admitted to practice in Minnesota since 2018, Bar ID number 0400351Admitted to practice in United States District Court, District of North Dakota since 2018.Admitted to practice in United States District Court, District of Minnesota since 2023.Admitted to practice in United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit since 2022.. Adam is not licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction not identified above.. Professional Memberships and Certifications. President, Cass County Bar Association (“CCBA”)Member, North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“NDACDL”)Member, Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“MACDL”)Member, DUI Defense Lawyers Association (“DUIDLA”)Member, State Bar Association of North Dakota (“SBAND”)Member, Minnesota State Bar Association (“MSBA”)Member, MSBA Criminal Law SectionMember, American Inns of CourtMember, North Dakota Association for Justice. Criminal Defense Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers2021 Great Plains Rising Star, Super Lawyers2022 Great Plains Rising Star, Super Lawyers. Blog Articles and Contributing Information. For Adam’s blog articles, current criminal defense issues, and other relevant information regarding the area of criminal defense, add Adam on LinkedIn.

Luke is an attorney at Vogel Law Firm. Luke’s practice area is criminal defense, where he aggressively advocates for his clients to achieve positive outcomes in their matters. Prior to working at Vogel, Luke was the head of the criminal defense department at another local law firm.. Luke attended Jamestown College in Jamestown, North Dakota, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Economics and Global Business. After graduating from Jamestown College, Luke attended the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There, Luke concentrated on criminal law courses and clerked at the First District Public Defender’s Office. Luke was also selected by his UST Law class to be their commencement speaker.Luke was born and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota and graduated from Jamestown High School.. During high school, Luke was a member of student government and was a member of the varsity basketball team for three years, including a senior year where he was named a unanimous selection to the All-WDA basketball team and chosen to the Class A Lion’s All-Star team.. Luke met his wife, Holly, while attending Jamestown College. In his free time, Luke enjoys spending time with Holly and their children, watching sports and movies, and continues to play amateur basketball to his teammate’s dismay.

Prior to co-founding Ringstrom DeKrey, Dane DeKrey spent nearly a decade honing his craft in both private and public law.. Most recently, Dane was the Director of the ACLU of North Dakota, where he strived to make the state a better place to live for all its residents. His work took many forms, including lobbying at the state capital, writing about criminal justice issues, running grassroots campaigns, and fighting against discriminatory laws and practices of any kind.. Before that, Dane worked as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Fargo, North Dakota, handling hundreds of federal criminal cases. His caseload included alleged drug possession and distribution, illegal gun possession, noncitizen illegal reentry, and supervised release violations. He also handled cases originating on the Turtle Mountain Indian and Spirit Lake Dakota Reservations, including alleged murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, assault, arson, and others.. Dane began his legal career representing average people taking on large companies at Zimmerman Reed LLP, an elite boutique class action law firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He remains close with the firm and often collaborates with them and other firms on cases involving civil rights violations, consumer protection violations, and catastrophic personal injury.. Dane attended law school at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated magna cum laude (top 10% of class). Before law school, Dane worked for Congressman Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota. Before that, Dane attended college at the University of North Dakota, where he graduated summa cum laude (top 1% of class), received the top undergraduate thesis award, and was elected Phi Beta Kappa.. Outside of his legal work, Dane serves on the board of Lunch Aid North Dakota and as an advisor to the Great Northern Innocence Project. While Dane grew up in Wyoming, his roots are in North Dakota.

Nicole L. Bredahl grew up in Fargo, North Dakota.  She attened the  University of North Dakota for her undergraduate and law school degrees.  She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2011 and her law degree in 2014.  During law school Nicole worked as a law clerk dedicating her time to criminal and family law cases. Although newly licensed, Nicole has first hand experience in handling various criminal and family related cases.. Nicole resides in West Fargo with her family.. She was admitted to practice in North Dakota in 2016.

Trent Barkus is a proud Veteran who grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota. He attended the University of North Dakota for law school. Trent attended the Jamestown College for his undergraduate degree and Troy University for his graduate degree. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science with a minor in Economics in 2008. In 2010, Trent enlisted in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist and while serving received a Master of Science in International Relations in 2015. He left active duty and joined the reserves where he was appointed a Naval Officer in 2017. During law school Trent worked as a law clerk dedicating his time to criminal cases. Additionally, he interned over the summer of 2017 as a Judicial Law Clerk in Becker County, Minnesota. Trent has first hand experience in handling various criminal cases.. Trent resides in West Fargo with his family.. He was admitted to practice in North Dakota in state and federal court in 2019.

Jesse Lange completed a double-major in Criminal Justice and Sociology at Minot State University.  Jesse graduated with distinction from the University of North Dakota Law School having earned numerous awards and honors for his scholarship and his success in competition.. A lifelong interest in civil rights and criminal justice issues led Jesse to focus his career on the defense of people accused of crimes.  He has extensive litigation experience in the courts of North Dakota, Minnesota, and the Federal system with cases involving drug, personal, and property crimes.  As an advocate, he has been very successful in jury trials and in pretrial suppression hearings.  His practice also extends to appeals and post-conviction relief having successfully represented clients in the appellate courts of both North Dakota and Minnesota, and in post conviction proceedings to overturn guilty verdicts and sentences.. He is a zealous and determined advocate for his clients and a formidable opponent to any prosecutor.

Being charged with a crime can be a stressful and nerve-racking experience.  That is why I do my best to understand my clients; not just their case, but their lives.  Every person's life is different and everyone has different life experiences.  By getting to know my clients, I can better understand their needs and how to best defend their case.  I am passionate about helping my clients and working with them so they can move on to the next part of their lives.

Daniel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota with a double-major in Political Science and History. Daniel went on to complete his Juris Doctor degree at the University of North Dakota School of Law, graduating with distinction. Daniel's undergraduate studies fostered an interest in the development of the criminal justice system in the United States and influenced his decision to focus his legal practice solely on criminal defense. Daniel is the firm's primary attorney on Minnesota criminal defense cases and is a staunch advocate for those he represents. Daniel is licensed and practices in all courts in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Federal Court.. A native of Minnesota, Daniel grew up in Detroit Lakes. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, spending time with friends and family, golfing, bowling, fishing, and an occasional Twins game.

Matt was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, where he attended J.H. Bruns Collegiate. Prior to moving to the United States, Matt served with distinction in the Canadian Army as an armored reconnaissance soldier with the 38th Brigade Group. He received an honorable discharge in 2008.. Matt attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, majoring in Political Science, where he graduated magna cum laude. He represented UND at the 2011 Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference (NAFAC) at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.. Following his undergraduate studies, Matt earned his juris doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he graduated cum laude. During his time at UND Law, Matt worked in the Immigration Law Clinic while acting as class representative with the Student Bar Association. Matt served as vice president of the UND Federalist Society for 2 years, as well as the President of the UND International Human Rights Organization (IHRO). Matt also served as Treasurer for the UND Law Moot Court Association.. While at UND Law, Matt found his passion for the U.S. Constitution, Rule of Law, and the rights of the accused. In addition to receiving the top grade award in Criminal Procedure 1, Criminal Procedure 2, and Domestic Violence Law, Matt served as a judicial extern to Judge Daniel Hovland and Magistrate Charles Miller of the U.S. District Court in Bismarck. Matt also served as an extern with the Walsh County State’s Attorney’s Office in Grafton.. Upon graduation from UND Law, Matt completed a clerkship with the East Central Judicial District, based in Fargo. He then became an assistant public defender with Minnesota’s 9th District Public Defender’s Office. Matt came to Vogel a seasoned assistant public defender with a 100 percent trial-win record! And believe me, he took cases to trial.. Matt currently lives in Crookston with his wife and son, and their tuxedo cat. In his free time during the summer, Matt enjoys wilderness exploration, visiting museums, SCUBA diving, and sailing his 25-foot sloop, Abigail, out on the biggest lake he can find. During the winter months, he enjoys model railroading, strategy games, and planning the next summer’s outdoor adventures.. Matt’s maintains a solid and growing community of clients in criminal defense and related litigation, and has gradually expanded his practice into the areas of agricultural law, water law, and land use. He also represents both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial and general litigation, including local business owners, as well as local counsel for several multinational corporations doing business in the Red River Valley and across North Dakota and Minnesota.