Law School: Hamline University School of Law, 1999 (J.D.)
College: University of Minnesota, B.A., 1995 (Political Science)
Member: National Assocation of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Minnesota Assocation of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court of Minnesota
Biography: Judicial Law Clerk, District Court of Minnesota (1999-2000); Instructor of Paralegal, Globe College
Appellate Cases:
Published: Haase v. Cmsr. of Pub. Safety, 679 N.W.2d 743 (Minn.App.2004) (officer's entry into driver's closing garage violates driver's fourth amendment privacy expectations, district court reversed); Gaertner ex rel. Minn. State Patrol v. One 1999 Dodge…, 668 N.W.2d 25 (Minn.App.2003) (vehicle forfeiture); State v. J.M.T., 646 N.W.2d 886 (Minn.App.2002) (establishing State's appellate brief time requirement);
Unpublished: D.A.A v. Cmsr. of Pub. Safety, 2003 WL 1962031 (Minn.App.2003) (officer jurisdiction); Beard v. State of Minnesota (case barred by Knaffla rule). State v. J.M.T., 2002 WL 1614062 (Minn.App.2002) (officer's seizure of defendant in motel parking lot violates fourth amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures, district court affirmed).
Current Appellate Cases:
State of Minnesota v. H.G.L. (on certified question to the Court of Appeals as to whether felon-in-possession of a firearm can face a second prosecution despite dismissal of first prosecution due to identical entrapment defense).
Our 3 most important tips to find the right criminal defense attorney
1) Hire an attorney who practices exclusively in the area of criminal defense. Many firms and lawyers who advertise their criminal defense services also practice law in other areas, but this may not be obvious to the consumer. Many lawyers have parallel websites and print ads offering non-criminal legal services, such as estate planning, immigration, personal injury, etc. The area of criminal law is highly specific and daily exposure to it will often produce the most skilled and efficient lawyer for your dollar.
2) Find a lawyer with a mid-range of experience in criminal defense (5-20 years). The criminal law has changed so much over the past two decades that, in our opinion, it is actually a benefit to have an attorney that was not deeply involved in the practice of criminal law more than 15 or 20 years ago.
3) Find a lawyer with exceptional research and writing skills. Not all attorneys relish the thought of research and writing on your behalf. The truth is that research and writing is very often the most critical ingredient for a successful disposition, such as the dismissal of criminal charges. While the vast majority of criminal defendants have done something which society could deem morally wrong, guilt is often a product of very precise and sometimes obscure legal precedent that can escape even a competent criminal lawyer.
