Makinen Criminal Lawyers

Attorney John Arechigo has a passion for criminal defense. He devotes nearly 100% of his practice to defending individuals charged with a crime. The other small portion of his practice is reserved for helping clients with collateral issues, perhaps unrelated to being charged with a crime. John is well-connected within the Minnesota criminal defense community. He has a number of valuable resources readily available to his clients, including expert investigators, chemical and mental health experts, sentencing experts, and other legal professionals. John is also easily approachable and accessible to his clients. He strives to...

Melvin R. Welch was born and raised in a small farm town in Minnesota. Following graduation, Melvin attended college at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, before joining the United States Navy in 1996. As a sailor, Melvin learned Russian and served aboard submarines. During his time in service, Melvin finished college and then worked as a translator in the NATO peacekeeping mission to Kosovo, translating for the United States Army and the Russian 13th Tactical Group in Kamenica, Kosovo.

Melvin R. Welch attended the University of Minnesota Law School and graduated in 2007. Melvin's first employ was with...

ETHAN P. MEANEY has been practicing in the area of DWI defense since 2001. Prior to that he prosecuted hundreds of DWIs in Hennepin and Goodhue Counties. Meaney has represented thousands of DWI cases and his recent victories in the Minnesota Court of Appeals cases State of Minnesota v. Paul Scott Demars and Tracey Ernest Wiberg v. Commissioner of Public Safety are just examples of his commitment to quality DWI representation. Meaney graduated magna cum laude from Northern State University in 1996 and graduated in 1999 from the University of South Dakota School of Law in the top quarter...

Gerard W. Mannion is a criminal defense attorney who cares deeply about the well-being of his clients. With every case he works, Gerard fights tirelessly to ensure that his clients achieve the best outcome possible while establishing lasting connections with everyone involved. Originally from Billings, Montana, Gerard has legal experience spanning across three states that includes judicial clerkship, federal criminal defense, and civil litigation. Gerard also spent multiple years in the banking and restaurant industries before moving to Minnesota to join the Kans Law Firm. Gerard earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Montana State University – Billings before...

Attending the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Katherine was immediately drawn to the field of criminal justice. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Katherine set her mind on becoming an attorney. Wasting no time, Katherine obtained her law degree from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. While in law school, Katherine became intrigued with the various aspects of criminal law and the shortcomings of the criminal justice system. She gained valuable knowledge and experience as a certified student attorney at the Anoka Public Defender's Office where she represented clients with misdemeanor and gross...

Attorney Paul W. Rogosheske received his Bachelor of Arts from Hamline University, graduating cum laude. He earned his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law. Paul focuses on criminal defense and also handles personal injury cases. Whether he is helping an individual accused of a crime or injured in an accident, he provides the legal representation his clients deserve and the zealous advocacy they need. Paul was included in Minnesota Law and Politics’s list of “One of the Top 40 Criminal Defense Attorneys” from 2007 to 2010. He works tirelessly to seek favorable results for his clients.

Christopher Cain has been practicing in multiple areas of the law in excess of 30 years. The areas include criminal law, appeals, municipal practice, advisory counsel to various governmental departments, criminal defense and family law. Chris served as both a District Ethics Committee Investigator of the Sixth District for five years and as a Vice-Chair and Chair on the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board for six years. He has tried approximately 100 jury trials to verdict. In addition, Chris has handled over 15 appeals and appeared before both the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme...

Albert Usumanu is a 1989 graduate of the University of Minnesota and a 1994 graduate of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the following Courts: Minnesota Supreme Court. October 1994 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Minnesota Federal District Court

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...

DAVID REYES voted 2012 and 2011 "BEST LAWYER" in Edina, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka, Minnesota by the Reader's Choice Awards!! HAVE A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR and FBI AGENT ON YOUR SIDE! I am a criminal defense attorney with over twenty-eight years of criminal law experience. As a former FBI Agent and Federal and State prosecutor, my clients get strong representation from an experienced trial attorney. My background is truly unique. After graduating from law school, I became a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I worked in several states conducting a variety of criminal investigations. After my career as an...

He has worked as an investigator, public prosecutor and private counsel. Mr. Neff has served on the Hennepin County Public Defender's Conflicts Panel, the Hennepin County Juvenile Justice Panel, and various bar association committees. He handles complex litigation including multi-district litigation, wrongful death, large employment cases and qui tam cases.

Attorney Allen L. Al-Zouhayli is a founding partner at RAM Law PLLC, located in Roseville, Minnesota. Allen practices criminal defense, firearms rights, family law, and defends licensed medical professionals against board investigations and discipline proceedings in the state of Minnesota. As a litigator, Allen has a trial history of not guilty verdicts from misdemeanors to aggravated felonies, by implementing creative strategies and tactics. Allen is a natural in the courtroom and has mastered the power of persuasion. Allen accredits his results due to his care for his clients and their outcomes. As the owner of a Christmas tree farm, Allen...

Kelly J. Keegan has been lead defense counsel on hundreds of cases of all types and levels, ranging from serious felonies to minor traffic offenses. Additionally, Kelly handles post-conviction matters such as expungement, probation violations, Department of Human Services background study disqualifications, reinstatement of the right to possess firearms, and sentence modification motions. She has represented clients under investigation prior to being formally charged, as well as clients facing grand jury indictment. Kelly is admitted to practice in Minnesota State Court as well as Federal United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She enjoys working in the courtroom...

A trial attorney for more than 30 years, Paul Otten practices in the areas of Personal Injury and Criminal Defense. He represents individuals and families who have suffered a personal injury or the loss of a loved one; including those involved in automobile collisions, medical malpractice claims, slip and fall cases, and dog attacks. Otten has achieved awards for his personal injury clients, both through negotiated settlements and jury trials. Since the establishment of the Otten firm, Criminal Defense was added to the foundation in Personal Injury.

A native of northern Minnesota, Otten received his Doctor of...

John retired from the United States Marine Corps as a Gunnery Sergeant after serving twenty-two years in various infantry, artillery and administrative capacities in numerous locations within the United States and around the world. John chaired the initiative to start Veterans Courts in Minnesota and has traveled the country assisting in setting them up. Additionally, John travels the country teaching law enforcement how to deal with veterans in crisis. John was a 2010 Attorney of the Year recipient.

Udeani Law Office is a legal firm devoted to helping Minneapolis residents with their various matters relating to criminal defense, family law, and immigration law. The team recognizes that these can be some of the most complex legal fields to work through, which is why every client is treated with respect and honesty. No two cases are alike, and when you retain the firms representation, you can be confident that you will be working with an attorney who is genuinely passionate about helping you obtain your goals. You'll never be left in the dark about the status of your case,...

The lawyers at L&S Law Office spend countless hours protecting and defending their clients rights. Each attorney at our office will leave no stone unturned and defend your case with the utmost skill and effort. The partners come from diverse backgrounds and have different life experiences, which makes the firm uniquely qualified to handle all areas of criminal defense law. One thing the criminal lawyers at L&S Law Ofice have in common, is their ability to effectively defend any type of case. Each partner is an exceptionally skilled trial lawyer with years of experience in handling cases both in state...

Brian M. Glodosky graduated from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse with a BS in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice in 2003. Thereafter, he received his Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law in 2006. Brian is licensed to practice law in the Minnesota State Courts, Wisconsin State Courts and the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. While in law school, Brian worked for the Anoka County Public Defender’s Office and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. Brian began his legal career as a prosecutor in Winona, Minnesota. ...

Dan joined Gammello, Qualley, Pearson & Mallak PLLC in January 2012 after serving for more than two years as the law clerk for the Honorable David J. Ten Eyck, Judge of District Court, Ninth Judicial District. Prior to serving as Judge Ten Eyck’s Law Clerk, Dan was also a Certified Student Attorney at the Tenth Judicial District Office of the Public Defender located in Stillwater, Minnesota for a year where he represented clients on in-custody arraignment and misdemeanor/gross-misdemeanor pretrial calendars. Since joining the firm, Dan has begun a diverse practice and represents clients in the areas of Real Estate, Corporate...

A Proud Minneapolis Background:
Thomas “Tommy” Leavitt was born and raised on the South Side of Minneapolis and is proud to continue to call that community home. He attended high school at Minneapolis Washburn, where he played both basketball and football. On the gridiron is where he truly shined, earning a scholarship to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Leavitt was known for being both a smart and aggressive player, two traits he proudly carries into the courtroom.

A Prestigious Education:
Tommy Leavitt earned his Juris Doctor from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. U.S. News and World Reports...

Hannah M. El-Bashir
Hannah earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Following her graduation, Hannah went on to complete her Juris Doctorate at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, MN. During law school, Hannah had extensive courtroom experience as a student certified attorney with the Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office. Hannah also had the opportunity to study arbitration and comparative law at BPP University in London, England.

Following law school, Hannah worked as an Associate Attorney at Ed Shaw Law, a general practice firm in Brainerd, Minnesota. Hannah also worked as a...

Dan Donnelly is an experienced trial attorney with over 200 trials before both Judges and Juries. He has successfully defended individuals facing significant prison time for sexual assault, domestic violence, drug, and DWI related offenses. In Family Court he has successfully tried or negotiated favorable results regarding custody and property division for his clients. Mr. Donnelly and his experienced paralegal, Lucia Luna, have procured visas, green cards, and citizenship for individuals in the Austin area and beyond for over 12 years. Together they have an extensive knowledge of consular processing, especially Mexico.

I'm the owner of Subzero Criminal Defense. I focus my practice on the defense of most serious offenses: murder, sexual assault, domestic assault, and child pornography. The more serious your case, the more important it is to defend your innocence. I'm also the creator of FalselyAccused.com. It's a website devoted to reverse engineering wrongful convictions from the past to help people falsely accused today. If you are falsely accused, there is no better attorney to craft a strategy to combat your false accusations.

Zorislav Leyderman moved the U.S. from Ukraine (former Soviet Union) when he was 11 and grew up in St. Paul. He obtained his B.A. degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied politics and the American criminal justice system. After college, Zorislav continued his education at the William Mitchell College of Law, where he obtained his J.D. and graduated with honors. While in law school, Zorislav Leyderman worked for the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP) Clinic and the William Mitchell Law Clinic, representing low-income people and Minnesota prisoners in both criminal and civil cases. Zorislav also worked for...

"I’m Josh Johnson. I provide first-rate Minnesota legal representation at reasonable rates. I have extensive experience in the 12 counties in and around the Twin Cities Metro area, and have represented hundreds of clients in criminal defense, personal injury and bankruptcy cases. If you have been injured in an auto accident, charged with a crime, or need advice about debt or bankruptcy, call me - initial consultations are always free. I received my Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and my bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I am admitted to the Minnesota Bar...

Kurt J. Knuesel is a Winona, Minnesota native who has been practicing law in Southeast Minnesota for over twenty years. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School whose practice is focused on criminal defense, including all levels of offenses, from DWI to homicide. Knuesel Law Firm has represented thousands of clients, including several in high profile cases, with excellent results. The Firm strives to provide aggressive representation to achieve the best possible results for our clients. Serving clients in the counties of Winona, Houston, Wabasha, Fillmore, Olmsted, and throughout Minnesota, Kurt J. Knuesel has the experience...

At the law office of Judith A. Samson, I strive to provide a compassionate and welcoming atmosphere for clients while aggressively pursuing their defense, acquittal, and freedom. As an experienced criminal defense lawyer, I recognize the need to provide clients with thorough understanding of their options and realistic outcomes while also vigorously defending against the charges. I have been serving clients as a Minnesota defense attorney for more than 15 years and provide comprehensive defense services ranging from drug charges and DUI to assault, theft, and juvenile crimes. Being investigated or charged with a crime can be a frightening and life-changing...

I focus on probate law and criminal law. An unusual combination, true, but I've worked in both fields for a long time. I'm a 1973 Northwestern University Law School graduate (J.D.) and a 1970 graduate of Grinnell (Iowa) College (B.A.). I also have an M.S. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and developed a specialty in designing and implementing computer databases for lawyers, paralegal, investigators and others similarly situated. I've done that for nearly 30 years. I originally hail from Fremont, NE, and have lived and worked in Minnesota for over 40 years.

Wanda Gierman is a criminal litigation attorney in St. Cloud, Minnesota where she has practiced law for more than a decade. She serves Stearns County and the surrounding counties throughout the state of Minnesota. Ms. Gierman grew up in Rugby, North Dakota and attended University of North Dakota where she graduated with a degree majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. As an undergraduate, she worked as a summer intern for the North Dakota Supreme Court. She went on to attend William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated in 2004. While in law...

Nick practices exclusively criminal defense with a focus in DUI / DWI, assault, and drug charges. Nick is a dedicated and passionate attorney that wants to fight for the best results possible in any criminal case. He understands that no one-size-fits-all approach will work for everyone. His representation is tailored to the individual needs and goals of each client. If the state has charged you with a crime, a good Minnesota criminal defense lawyer is essential. The state has an extraordinary amount of resources at their disposal. Simply put, you cannot fight them alone. In addition to practicing criminal...