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You may not think it is that big of a deal. Buying beer or liquor for underage kids, or frat brothers/sorority sisters still younger than 21, is a right of passage. You may justify it by thinking that you owe it to them because someone did it for you…

Following a conviction, most defendants are placed on probation with many terms and conditions that must be followed. These can include time in custody, community service, no use of alcohol or drugs, random testing, a chemical dependency assessment,…

Domestic assault by strangulation can often be the byproduct of substance use and/or abuse. A bad night. Some bad choices. Spurred by the effects of alcohol or drugs, clouding someone’s judgment. When this happens, an appropriate defense would…

A Minnesota Careless Driving citation is a serious traffic offense that can result in a criminal record if there is a conviction. Further, while it does not automatically result in a loss of driving privileges, it can lead to the termination of insur…

There are two certainties in life: death and taxes. Very few enjoy the process of filing tax returns and paying their taxes. But, it’s an obligation we cannot avoid. IF you do avoid it, though, you could receive the attention of the IRS or face…

Roughly a year ago, a client contacted North Star seeking an appeal of his sentence, which would require him to remain in the Minnesota State Prison system for at least four full years. He had entered a plea of guilty in Minneapolis to first degree n…

The Coronavirus sucks. Hearing the nightly news on how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the country and fearing the impact it can have on our jobs, finances, and, most importantly, health – well, it takes a toll. Add in the…

The severity of a DWI in Minnesota depends on the number of aggravating factors, if any. If there are none, the DWI is a misdemeanor offense, with no statutory sentencing requirements. If one or more DWI aggravating factors are present, the DWI can b…