Howard Bass
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Burnsville, MN
- Free Consultation
Attorney Howard Bass is the founder of Bass Law Firm, PLLC. Since establishing his Burnsville law firm, Mr. Bass has worked diligently to protect the rights of accused individuals living in Dakota County and the surrounding areas in Minnesota who face complex criminal charges such as the following:
- Drunk driving
- Drug charges
- Sexual offenses
- Property crimes
- Violent crimes
- White collar crimes
- Probation violations
- Juvenile crimes
- Appeals
In addition to defending clients at trial, Mr. Bass also assists those who have lost property to forfeiture, those seeking post-conviction relief and those wishing to have their criminal records expunged.
Mr. Bass began his legal career in 1984 after earning his law degree from DePaul University College of Law. He moved to Greenville, Mississippi, where he practiced law a a public defender in Washington County until 1988, when he relocated to the Twin Cities and was licensed to practice law in Minnesota. After practicing with Doug Thomson for a year, he joined Meshbesher & Spence, where he became a partner in the criminal department and practiced with Ron Meshbesher for 15 years. In 2004, he started his own firm in Burnsville where he continues to practice exclusively in the field of criminal defense. After a legal career spanning almost 40 years, Mr. Bass has earned a reputation as one of the region's leading criminal defense attorneys.
Thanks to his excellent reputation, Mr. Bass has received a number of honors and awards. He has an "Excellent" rating from Avvo, and The Best Lawyers in America has included him on its list of the nation's top attorneys. In addition, Minnesota Monthly named him one of the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota.
Although Mr. Bass spends most of his time fighting on behalf of his clients facing criminal charges, he still finds time to engage in pro bono civil liberties work. A longtime board member of the ACLU of Minnesota , he represents those who have suffered violations of their civil rights, such as improper search and seizure and free speech.
- 60%Criminal Defense
- 30%Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10%Criminal Defense: White Collar
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Probation, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations, DUI/DWI, White Collar Crime, Criminal Law - Federal
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2002 - 2021
Additional Sources of Information About Howard Bass
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About Howard Bass
First Admitted: 1984, Mississippi
Professional Webpage: http://www.thebasslawfirm.com/Attorney/Howard-Bass.shtml
Pro bono/Community Service
- Credit River Township DFL Precinct Chair, 2004 - 2005
- American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Board Member, 2005 - Present
- Open Circle Church Outreach Ministry Team Leader, 2004 - 2007
- mnpACT! (Minnesota Network for Progressive Action) Board Member, 2004 - 2008
- Camp Wellstone Graduate, 2005 - Present
- Scott County DFL Secretary, 2004 - 2005
- Lakeville Youth Football, Basketball & Soccer Coach, 1997 - 2004
- Open Circle Church Sunday School Teacher, 1995 - 2000
- Minnesota Voter Protection Project Dakota & Scott County Counsel, 2004 - 2006
- Senate District 35 DFL Treasurer, 2004 - 2005
- Minnesotans Against the Death Penalty Steering Committee Member, 2004 - 2006
- Lakeville South High School Mock Trial Coach, 2004 - 2008
- Open Circle Church Youth Group Leader, 2002 - 2006
- mnpACT! (Minnesota Network for Progressive Action) Treasurer, 2006 - 2008
- Senate District 35 DFL Chair, 2005 - 2008
Honors/Awards
- Minnesota Monthly "Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota", 2006 - Present
- American Jurisprudence Award Constitutional Law, 1982
- Minnesota Law & Politics "Super Lawyer", 2001 - Present
- Minnesota Law & Politics "Top 40 Criminal Defense Super Lawyers", 2006
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2004 - Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association Outstanding Professionalism Award, 2007
Verdicts/Settlements
- State of Minnesota v. Daniel Alan Kuhlman, 722 N.W.2d 1 (Minnesota Court of Appeals 2006)
- State of Minnesota v. Daniel Alan Kuhlman, 729 N.W.2d 577 (Minnesota Supreme Court 2007)
- United States v. Jeffrey A. Siewert, 2008 WL 4635258 (United States District Court Minnesota 2008)
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- DePaul Law Review, Managing Editor, DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1983 - 1984
- "Quilici v. Village of Morton Grove: Ammunition for a National Handgun Ban", 32 De Paul L. Rev. 317, 1983
Bar/Professional Activity
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1988
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Board Member, 1994 - 2004
- Mississippi Public Defenders Association, Board Member, 1985 - 1987
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1988
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President, 2002 - 2003
- Mississippi Public Defenders Association, President, 1986 - 1987
- Mississippi Civil Liberties Union, Board Member, 1985 - 1987
- Mississippi, 1984
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 1989 - Present
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 1989 - Present
- American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Board of Directors, Member, 2005 - 2021
- Minnesota, 1988
Educational Background
- Mankato State University, Mankato, Minnesota, B.A. magna cum laude, Majors: Political Science and Economics, Honors: President, Mankato State University Student Association, 1980-1981, Honors: Top 10% of his class, 1981
Last Updated: 10/15/2021