Criminal Defense Attorneys in Edina, MN

A DWI stop or other criminal charge in Edina goes before Hennepin County prosecutors, and the record can affect your career. A Minnesota-licensed criminal defense attorney practicing in Edina will review your case for free.

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How we match your Edina criminal defense case

When you submit a Edina criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Minnesota law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Minnesota who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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Criminal Defense cases in Edina

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Edina is patrolled by its own police department, with heavy traffic enforcement along Highway 100, Crosstown 62, and France Avenue, plus retail-theft and DWI cases tied to the Southdale shopping district and nightlife. Misdemeanor and felony charges from Edina are prosecuted in Hennepin County District Court, one of the busiest criminal dockets in the state, with felony matters handled downtown by the county attorney's office. Early decisions about statements, testing, and license consequences often matter more than anything later. DearLegal matches you with a Minnesota-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Edina, with a free review.

Charges arising in Edina are prosecuted in Hennepin County District Court, with felonies handled by the county attorney's office and lesser offenses by city prosecutors.
Traffic and DWI enforcement on Highway 100, Crosstown 62, and I-494, along with retail-theft reports near Southdale, drive much of the local caseload.
A DWI arrest can trigger a separate driver's license process through the state that moves on its own timeline, apart from the criminal case.

Minnesota criminal defense rules at a glance

Edina cases run under Minnesota law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Minnesota page.

Read the full Minnesota criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder; 9 years for most criminal sexual conduct involving children; 3 years for most other felonies; longer for fraud and theft (Minn. Stat. § 628.26)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 3 years
3 years for most misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors (Minn. Stat. § 628.26(g))
Sentencing Structure: Sentencing Guidelines
Sentencing Guidelines grid (Minn. Stat. § 244.09) — severity level 1-11 crossed with criminal history 0-6+ yields a presumptive commit or stay; career offender enhancement (§ 609.1095); mandatory minimums attach to some firearm and drug offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: 2 years
Minn. Stat. § 609A — broad eligibility: most misdemeanors after 2 years, gross misdemeanors after 4, certain felonies after 5; the Cannabis Act adds automatic expungement of marijuana convictions
Bail / Pretrial Release: Governed
Governed by Minn. R. Crim. P. 6; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Minn. Const. Art. I, § 7); many counties run pretrial risk assessments
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Edina criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Minnesota · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Minnesota are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

You won't find contingency fees in Minnesota criminal defense — they're prohibited in criminal cases under Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Instead, expect a flat fee for misdemeanors and most felonies, with hourly billing reserved for complex matters. If you can't afford counsel, the Minnesota Board of Public Defense oversees state public defender offices that represent indigent defendants statewide.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Edina criminal defense questions, answered

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Cases from Edina are handled in Hennepin County District Court, with hearings at a courthouse in the county depending on the level of the offense. Felonies generally proceed downtown in Minneapolis. An attorney will confirm your hearing location and appear with you.

You are not required to answer questions, and statements made early are frequently the strongest evidence a prosecutor has. Being polite and declining to discuss the facts until you have counsel is not an admission of anything. Contact an attorney before giving any recorded interview or written statement.

Depending on the offense, the evidence, and your record, outcomes can include dismissal, a reduced charge, or a resolution that keeps a conviction off your record, and some past cases may qualify for expungement. Deadlines and eligibility rules apply and vary. A Minnesota attorney can assess which options are realistically open to you.

No. Be polite, decline, and ask for a lawyer. Officers with the BCA, Minnesota State Patrol, Minneapolis PD, St. Paul PD, and county sheriff's offices are trained interrogators, and everything you say can be used against you. You have a Fifth Amendment right to stay silent, reinforced by Minn. Const. Art. I, § 7's protection against self-incrimination. Use both.

Almost always. A misdemeanor here carries up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 in fines; a gross misdemeanor up to 364 days and $3,000 under Minn. Stat. § 609.02-.03. More importantly, a lawyer can pursue a Stay of Adjudication or Stay of Imposition, which can mean no conviction at all or a reduced one. And if the charge is DV or DWI, the collateral consequences of a conviction follow you for years.