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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Rochester, MN

Our Recommended Best Rochester Criminal Defense Lawyers

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Rochester criminal defense lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

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8Top Picks

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Providers

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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
2746 Superior Drive Northwest, Rochester, MN 55901

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (33)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Austin J. Swisher Law Office helps people in Rochester, Minnesota, who require criminal defense representation. The firm deals with cases involving DUI, theft, assault/domestic violence, sexual conduct, and controlled substances. It formulates various strategies to make sure that each client has the best chance of a favorable outcome in court. The team also assesses details to determine whether a case can be expunged. The firm is led by Austin J. Swisher, who has been in legal practice for over 15 years.

Austin J. Swisher graduated cum laude from the University of North Dakota’s School of Law in Grand Forks. Before pursuing a career in law, he received the Army Commendation Medal while in the North Dakota Army National Guard. He also worked as a business banker for Starion Financial.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
2212 2nd Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55902

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.0 (21)
Google
4.7 (11)
Yelp
3.5 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Protecting the rights of Minnesotans since 2008, Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office Chtd. defends people in Rochester, including juveniles and students, who have been accused of committing crimes. Its team works on various criminal defense cases, some of which involve embezzlement, fraud, assault, drug crimes, and robbery. One of the firm's founding partners, Thomas K. Hagen, was recognized as the National Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2021 by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He has been included in the Minnesota Monthly List of Top Lawyers since 2022.

Jason Kohlmeyer was born and raised in Western Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Army as an army intelligence analyst before obtaining his law degree from the Hamline University School of Law. He is the founding chair of the 6th District New Lawyer Section Affiliate.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
206 4th Street Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (48)
Avvo
4.8 (24)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Schatz Law Firm handles the legal needs of individuals accused of a crime in Rochester and throughout Minnesota. It provides legal counsel to help defendants better grasp their legal standing and possible strategies to disprove the accusations against them. Additionally, its criminal defense team helps clients increase their odds of having their charges dismissed or reduced by negotiating plea deals with the relevant prosecutors or by arguing before juries and judges. Schatz Law Firm has represented numerous defendants since 2018.

Criminal defense lawyer Michael Schatz earned his J.D. from the Hamline University School of Law. He is an active member of the Minnesota Association for Justice. Michael has also been practicing personal injury and workers' compensation law for over a decade.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
300 1st Avenue Northwest, Rochester, MN 55901

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Godwin Adkins advocates for the rights of the people of Rochester. It provides legal representation to individuals accused of criminal offenses, including domestic assault, burglary, firearm and tax crimes, financial exploitation, and manslaughter. It also handles traffic-related offenses, vehicular homicide charges, and controlled substance crimes. One of its lawyers, Jay S. Adkins, is admitted to practice law before the Minnesota Supreme Court. He is also a member of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

James A. Godwin earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 2005. He was included by Super Lawyers on its listings from 2021 to 2023. Godwin is admitted to practice law before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
313 West 6th Street, Saint Charles, MN 55972

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
3.8 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Leveraging over three decades of helping people with their legal needs, Grinde & Dicke Law Firm, P.A., d.b.a. Ryan Associates, LLC, works on criminal defense cases in Rochester and throughout Minnesota. It defends individuals who are facing felony and misdemeanor allegations. It also provides legal representation in traffic violation cases and helps in sealing criminal records through legal expungement. One of the firm's lawyers, Paul H. Grinde, served as the president of the Olmsted County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Rochester Area Builders.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
117 East Center Street, Rochester, MN 55904

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.1 (35)
Avvo
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Restovich Braun & Associates offers legal counsel to the Rochester community. With criminal defense as one of its practice areas, the team provides aggressive representation in cases of domestic violence, DUI, drug charges, manslaughter, and white-collar crimes. The firm conducts an analysis of the case details, studies the legal standards in Minnesota, and represents each client in court to help them remove their criminal record or reduce their charges. The eight attorneys at Restovich Braun & Associates use a collaborative approach, leveraging more than 80 years of combined experience in the legal sector.

Partner Tom R. Braun was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 2005. He was recognized by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys with the Top 10 Attorney in the State of Minnesota award. Tom is also a lifetime member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
38 West Main Street, Dodge Center, MN 55927

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Weber, Leth, and Woessner, PLC, offers criminal defense solutions to people in Rochester, Minnesota, who have been arrested for or suspected of doing criminal acts. It handles several cases, such as theft, domestic abuse, and DUI. It helps defendants navigate the legal system and have a grasp of all the factors that can affect their case. The firm strives to obtain fair resolutions by defending them in front of juries and judges. Brian L. Weber, one of the firm's lawyers, has been in legal practice since 1977.

Timothy A. Woessner is a criminal defense attorney who is authorized to practice law in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota. He served on the board of directors of the Legal Assistance of Olmsted County, where he also volunteered as an attorney who provided free legal services to low-income citizens.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Rochester
300 3rd Avenue Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Perry Law Office has been fighting for the legal rights and best interests of criminal case defendants in Rochester and other areas in Minnesota for over 37 years. It argues before judges and juries to obtain fair and positive outcomes against the allegations against its clients. The firm looks at each case's facts and gathers proof that its clients were wrongfully charged with a crime. It also advises them on what to say and do during a criminal trial.

Jerome Perry is a civil trial specialist certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Minnesota State Bar Association. Since 1970, he has been practicing criminal defense, estate planning, and personal injury litigation in Minnesota. He previously served as president of the Third Judicial District Bar Association.

Compare Best Rochester Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Austin J. Swisher Law Office
2746 Superior Drive Northwest, Rochester, MN 55901
Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office Chtd.
2212 2nd Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55902
Schatz Law Firm
206 4th Street Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904
Godwin Dold
300 1st Avenue Northwest, Rochester, MN 55901
Ryan Associates LLC
313 West 6th Street, Saint Charles, MN 55972
Restovich Braun & Associates
117 East Center Street, Rochester, MN 55904
Weber, Leth and Woessner, PLC
38 West Main Street, Dodge Center, MN 55927
Perry Law Office
300 3rd Avenue Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Rochester, MN Criminal Defense FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Rochester, Minnesota?

    Call (507) 328-6800 for non-emergency concerns in Rochester.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Rochester, Minnesota?

    You may obtain a copy of a Rochester police report by filing a request at the official website of the city’s Public Records Center: https://rochestermn.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(S(ulxjw0ni4yo2tjtzfqiznp3k))/supporthome.aspx.

  • Will you go to jail for a misdemeanor in Rochester?

    It depends. Rochester follows Minnesota’s three classifications for misdemeanors. If you were convicted of a petty misdemeanor, you won’t serve time in jail, but you could pay up to $300 in fines. If you were convicted of a misdemeanor, you could stay up to 90 days in jail, pay a fine of up to $1,000, and get a probation period for up to two years. The most serious type of misdemeanor is a gross misdemeanor, which can result in a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to $3,000, and a period of probation of up to six years.

  • Can juveniles be charged with sex crimes in Rochester?

    Yes, it is possible for juveniles to be charged with sex crimes in Rochester, and if convicted in juvenile court, they could face a potential placement in a juvenile facility, a lengthy sexual predator registration, and required participation in a sex offender treatment program. Moreover, considering the nature of sex crimes, there is always a possibility that the child offender will be tried in the Adult Criminal Court.

  • Can the Rochester police force you to take the breathalyzer or give your blood for a DWI test?

    No, the Rochester police cannot force you to take the breathalyzer or give your blood to test you for DWI, unless you are unconscious. Law enforcement officers must respect your request should you refuse to undergo a DWI test. This also applies to the field sobriety test and the portable breathalyzer administered on the road. If you were forced to take any test, your attorney can argue to suppress the results and take the results out of consideration in a probable cause determination.

  • Can the police enter your Rochester home for a search without a warrant?

    The Rochester police can only legally enter your home if they have your permission, a warrant, or can prove probable cause. As they usually rely on consent, do not give them permission to enter your house and be firm about it, as any evidence they collect after being given consent to enter your home will be admissible in trial.

  • What does expungement do to your criminal record in Rochester?

    Expungement is a legal process where all details of a given arrest and related court proceedings are removed from the publicly available version of your record. Essentially speaking, it hides arrests, charges, and convictions from everyone, including those who wish to run a background check on you. As expungement is not available to all offenders, it would be best to consult a criminal defense attorney to check your eligibility for the process.