Professional Memberships     

Minnesota County Attorney’s Association, Criminal Law Committee

Minnesota State Bar Association

Sixth District Bar Association

Teaching Experience

See full page of teaching experience

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

2011 Law Enforcement Professional Service Award, Minnesota South Central Investigators Coalition.

2009 Blue Earth County Drug Court Award, recognizing years of service to the program.

2000 Chief’s Award, Minnesota State Patrol, for providing dedicated, thorough, and professional prosecution of cases, and for exemplary support to the Minnesota State Patrol, its members, and its mission.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Chief Assistant County Attorney and Assistant County Attorney – Criminal Division, Blue Earth County

Engage in all phases of adult felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor prosecution. 

Supervise four other attorneys in criminal division, responsible for prosecution of all adult criminal cases.

Evaluate, prepare and present cases to Grand Juries; presented five homicide cases, all resulting in first-degree murder indictments.

Research legal issues, and draft memoranda, briefs, jury instructions, legal documents for appeals, arraignments, complaints, pleadings, bail recommendations, and other legal documents.

Prepare and present civil forfeiture cases, including discovery, motions, pre-trials and trials.

Serve as Board Member for the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force.

• Advise Board of Directors on matters relating to Task Force administration.
• Assist in providing coordinated joint investigation of controlled substance violations, and other felony-level criminal activity within jurisdictional boundaries of four county, nine agency, participating Task Force communities.
• Develop and implement best practices and set minimum professional standards for Task Force operations.

Assisted in planning, inception, and implementation of the Blue Earth County Drug Court Program; and provide ongoing advice and training.

• Collaborate with individuals from various disciplines both within and outside of the criminal justice system.
• Attend weekly Drug Court Staffing meetings; provide input regarding participant progress, and appropriate candidates.
• Member of Drug Court Steering Committee.
• Member of Drug Court Executive Committee.

    
Organized, facilitated, planned and implemented the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office Veterans Program, now adopted as the 5th Judicial District Multi-County Veterans Court.

• Promote public safety while supporting veterans and their families through a coordinated effort among the veteran services delivery system, community-based services, and the court.
• Identify cases involving defendants with veteran status through a judicially-monitored program, and provide alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment, rehabilitation services, and strict community supervision.
• Facilitate a partnership between the criminal justice system, the Department of Veteran Affairs, local veteran organizations, and other local providers.

Supervise legal work in other county departments as assigned, including mental health, social services, child protection, and financial assistance.

Provide legal counsel to county officials, members of county departments, and law enforcement agencies.

Advise government officials and law enforcement officers regarding criminal and civil matters.

Provide training for law enforcement officers, probation officers, and advocates. 

Conducted over 50 jury trials, and 100 court trials.

Additional experience in areas including employment, environmental, and real estate.  

Advise many governmental agencies regarding various issues.

Assistant City Attorney, City of Shakopee, Minnesota

Engaged in all phases of prosecution and conducted numerous trials.  

Gained additional experience in civil areas including zoning, tax appeals, employment, government finance, etc.

Associate and Law Clerk, Lommen, Nelson, Cole & Stageberg, P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota         

     
Practiced general corporate law, including corporate finance and securities regulation, mergers and acquisitions and other related matters.

Successfully represented clients in the areas of employment, environmental, finance, securities, real estate, insurance coverage, workers compensation, and professional liability.

Practiced in all phases of litigation, including discovery, motions, pre-trials and trials.  

Provided prosecution services for the City of Prior Lake.

Legal Intern, University of Iowa Clinical Law Program

Conducted legal research, wrote memoranda and drafted legal opinions for the Honorable Michael J. Melloy, Chief Bankruptcy Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF LAW, Iowa City, Iowa

Juris Doctor 1989

Associate Note and Comment Editor, Iowa Law Review, Volume 74 

BUENA VISTA COLLEGE, Storm Lake, Iowa

Bachelor of Arts, Finance and Banking, 1987 - Magna Cum Laude. 
     Recognition: Dean's List, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Pat's Resume