Nick Thornton – Fargo Public Defender's Office

Practice/Organization Description

Nick is a full-time state public defender in Fargo, North Dakota, and has been since the Fargo Public Defender Office opened in 2008. As a public defender, Nick represents indigent clients in criminal and quasi-criminal matters in district court and on appeal in North Dakota state courts.

Additionally, Nick has taught law-related classes at Minnesota State University Moorhead and the University of Mary. He also is very involved in the North Dakota criminal defense community. In 2010, he served as the vice-president of the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 2011, he was elected president by his peers. He has lectured on criminal law related topics at area colleges and in training seminars sponsored by the North Dakota State Bar Association and the North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents.

Before becoming a public defender, Nick worked in private practice at the Serkland Law Firm, where he focused his practice on criminal defense, business law, commercial transactions, banking law, and general litigation. Nick was a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner of the North Dakota Supreme Court.

Nick received his undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Mary. He obtained his law degree with distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. While in law school, he served as the president of the UND Criminal Law Association; as a Teaching Assistant for the first-year criminal law class, participated in Moot Court, and authored a book on the criminal justice system in North Dakota. Nick is currently working on a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of North Dakota.

Nick is originally from Jamestown, North Dakota. He and his wife have a five-year-old son. During their spare time, Nick and his family enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors.

Bar Admissions

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2007)

U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota (2006)

U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota (2007)

North Dakota state courts (2006)

Minnesota state courts (2007)

Education

University of North Dakota School of Law, Juris Doctor

University of Mary, Master of Business Administration

Minnesota State University Moorhead, Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice

Professional Associations & Memberships

North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

American Bar Association

State Bar Association of North Dakota

Cass County Bar Association

Honors and Awards

Law Clerk to the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner of the North Dakota Supreme Court

Order of the Coif

Areas of Practice

• Appellate Practice
• Criminal Law
• Litigation