professional credentials
- Member, State Bar Association of North Dakota (“SBAND”)
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association (“MSBA”)
- Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“NACDL”)
- Member, North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“NDACDL”)
- Member, National College for DUI Defense
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Admitted to practice in North Dakota, since 2004
- Admitted to practice in Minnesota, since 2005
- Admitted to practice in the United States District Court, District of North Dakota, since 2004
Publications
BACKGROUND
Jesse’s lifelong interest in civil rights and criminal justice issues led him to focus his career on defending people accused of crimes. During his two decades as a criminal defense lawyer, Jesse has represented people from all walks of life as they faced a variety of serious criminal charges in the courts of North Dakota, Minnesota, and the Federal government.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Prior to joining SW&L, Jesse clerked at a criminal defense firm in Grand Forks, North Dakota during law school, and then practiced criminal defense at other firms in Fargo, North Dakota.
EDUCATION HISTORY
As a college student, Jesse took as many criminal justice courses as he could while earning a bachelor’s degree with majors in criminal justice and sociology. One of his courses involved reenacting a real-life murder trial with the students taking on the roles of the judge, attorneys, witnesses, and jurors. Jesse played the role of the defense lawyer and obtained a not guilty verdict for his “client.” This experience was key in his decision to become a criminal defense lawyer.
After graduating from Minot State University, Jesse went to law school at the University of North Dakota. During law school, Jesse received awards for the highest grade in three courses and for the best appellate brief in the moot court competition. He was also a finalist in moot court and the Carrigan Cup trial competition as well as the Burtness Scholar teaching assistant for Constitutional Law.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Jesse grew up in Hazen, North Dakota where his father practiced law and his mother ran a daycare center. As his mother never tires of telling people, the five-year-old Jesse believed his father played tennis when he went to court. When he found out what really happened in court, he was still interested and even attended a few trials over the years. During high school, Jesse played football and was on the wrestling team. He also worked at the local grocery store and for the city before moving to attend college.
These days Jesse resides in Horace with his family and many pets. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, kayaking, skiing, snowshoeing, basketball, hockey, playing guitar, and following his beloved Detroit Lions.