J.W.

I was referred to Attorney James Gempeler at Northstar Criminal Defense by a close friend of mine. I was looking to have my DWI record expunged due to charges from 13 or 14 years ago. I had run into issues with finding employment, apartments, etc. as a result of my criminal record, and mistakes I had made when I was much younger. I didn't have much hope that I could successfully have my record expunged because I had previously talked to an attorney who told me that it was not possible. So I called James without high expectations.

James was very honest and transparent with me about the potential hurdles, but assured me he was up for the challenge. He was very well educated about the expungement law, and was citing sources that might be applicable to our case. He guided me step-by-step through the entire process letting me know what to expect and how to mentally prepare. He was fantastic during our court appearance. He had clear knowledge of all of the nuances of my case and was able to articulate them accurately to the judge and the opposing attorney.

This was a very emotional process for me, as I have a lot of shame surrounding the poor choices I made when I was younger - so much so that I have dedicated my professional career to helping individuals and families affected by addiction. And I was grateful that James always treated me as a human being with compassion and respect. I never once felt judged for my mistakes.

I am thrilled to say that we got the outcome we had hoped for thanks to James' hard work. My record will officially be sealed, and I will be able to move forward and continue to help more people who struggle without being held back by my criminal record. When I found out the court found in my favor, I sobbed for almost an hour as I had believed this would be something that would haunt me for the rest of my life. To have this burden removed from my shoulders so that I can continue to be a positive contributor to society is a freedom I didn't expect to know. I am confident to say I won't need James' services in the future from criminal defense or expungement representation, but I would gladly recommend him to anyone looking to move forward from previous legal mistakes.