Nicholas Dwight Thornton
Fremstad Law Firm
Nick loves practicing law in and out of the courtroom. He has extensive experience in representing people in all stages of criminal proceedings, from the first appearance or arraignment through trial, appeal, and post-conviction proceedings. While his primary practice area is criminal law, Nick also practices in family law, personal injury, and general litigation. Nick is licensed to practice in all federal and state courts in North Dakota and Minnesota. Before joining Fremstad Law Firm, Nick represented almost two-thousand individual clients at the Fargo Public Defender Office in all types of criminal cases from driving under the influence and driving under suspension to murder and gross sexual imposition. Before that, he clerked for Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner at the North Dakota Supreme Court. Nick received his undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He received his law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. Nick has a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Mary and is pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice from the University of North Dakota. Nick has authored two articles published by the North Dakota Law Review, presented on a number of criminal defense-related topics at continuing legal education seminars, and has taught law-related classes at the University of Mary. Nick is a past-president and charter member of the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Nick also serves as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach at a local youth wrestling club. Nick is originally from Jamestown, North Dakota. He and his wife have two very active sons. During their spare time, Nick and his family enjoy traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
- Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
- White Collar Crime
- Civil Rights
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Discrimination, Employment, Fair Housing, Police Misconduct, Privacy Law
- Cannabis & Marijuana Law
- Marijuana Business Formation, Medical Marijuana
- Not Currently Accepting Clients
- Minnesota
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- North Dakota
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- 8th Circuit
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- United States District Court - District of Minnesota
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- United States District Court - District of North Dakota
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- English: Spoken, Written
- Attorney
- Fremstad Law Firm
- - Current
- Public Defender
- Fargo Public Defender's Office
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- Represent approximately 350 indigent adult clients per year charged with anything from class B misdemeanors to class AA felonies, in all stages of the criminal cases in North Dakota state courts. Also represent clients in appeals, post-conviction relief, juvenile delinquency, deprivation, and termination of parental rights matters.
- Associate Attorney
- Serkland Law Firm
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- Represented clients in a variety of legal matters from first client meeting to the case’s resolution. Practice areas included criminal defense, administrative law, business law, commercial transactions, banking law, and general civil litigation Served as CJA panel attorney for the United States District Court.
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner
- North Dakota Supreme Court
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- Performed legal research and drafted memoranda, orders and opinions concerning a variety of issues before the Supreme Court, both civil and criminal
- University of Mary
- MBA (2008) | Management
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- University of North Dakota School of Law
- J.D. (2006) | Law
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- Honors: Order of the Coif; Juris Doctor with Distinction
- Activities: UND Criminal Law Association; Student Trial Lawyer Association; American Bar Association, Law Student Division
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- Minnesota State College & University - Minnesota State University, Moorhead
- B.A. (2003) | Criminal Justice
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- Honors: Cum Laude
- Activities: Mock Trial, Criminal Justice Association
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- Rising Stars
- Superlawyers
- Rising Stars
- Superlawyers
- Rising Stars
- Superlawyers
- Rising Stars
- Superlawyers
- Rising Stars
- Superlawyers
- North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Past-President
- - Current
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- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
- - Current
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- North Dakota State Bar # 06210
- Member
- - Current
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- The Failing Promise of Padilla: How Padilla v. Kentucky Should Have Changed the Game in North Dakota, But Did Not
- University of North Dakota Law Review
- Unauthorized Practice of Law: A Case Study on How to Identify It and What to Do About It
- State Bar Association of North Dakota
- Avoiding Pitfalls: Common Reasons for Mediation Failure and Solutions for Success (co-authored with Jack G. Marcil)
- University of North Dakota Law Review
- 2018 Trial Practice Institute Graduate
- National Criminal Defense College
- Website
- Website
