Dennis Fisher | Criminal Defense Lawyer

Photo of Dennis D. Fisher
Dennis D. Fisher

Dennis Fisher, a trial lawyer in state and federal courts since 1978, brings a unique perspective to the practice of law. A native of Chicago, Fisher was a legal reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper for 15 years, covering criminal and civil cases in U.S. District Court, where he forged friendships with some of the city's top legal talent, including James R. Thompson, who later became governor of Illinois, and Dan Webb, one of the nation's top litigators.

After graduation from Loyola University School of Law, Fisher was admitted to the bar by the Illinois Supreme Court in November 1978 and left his journalism career to join the United States Attorney's Office in Chicago as a prosecutor.

As a commissioned officer of the United States Naval Reserve, Fisher continued to employ his journalism and communications skills as a Public Affairs Officer. He was often assigned to the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) or the Navy's Chief of Information Office in the Pentagon. His active duty tours took him to Europe and Africa among other international assignments. He retired as Navy Captain in 1995.

After prosecuting criminal cases for nearly four years in the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office, Fisher transferred with the Department of Justice to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1982, remaining as a federal prosecutor in that office until 1997, when he left for private practice.

Fisher specializes in criminal defense in all arenas—local, state, and federal—with a focus on white collar criminal defense. Contact him to discuss your case.

EDUCATION:

1974-1978
Juris Doctor, law degree, Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law.
 
1966-1968
Master of Science (Journalism), Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, Evanston, Illinois.
 
1963-1966
Bachelor of Arts (English Literature), Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois.
 


EMPLOYMENT - LEGAL - JOURNALISM:

2005 - present
Partner, Bredahl & Fisher, Fargo, ND
Present Criminal defense attorney and trial lawyer in a six lawyer law firm.
 
2005 - present
 
1998 - 2005
Partner, Stefanson Law, Moorhead, MN
Criminal defense attorney and trial lawyer in a six lawyer law firm.
 
1999 - present
Present Resource Counsel for approximately 90 Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys.
Appointed by the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota.
 
1997-1998
 
1978-1997
Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of North Dakota (Fargo 1982-97) and Northern District of Illinois (Chicago, 1978-81), U.S. Department of Justice.
Investigated and prosecuted criminal cases for the government in U.S. District Court, and argued before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits.
 
1967-1978
Legal Affairs and General Assignment Reporter, The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper.
Newspaper reporter/writer for a metropolitan daily with a circulation of more than 600,000, one of the 10 largest in the nation.
 

EMPLOYMENT - TEACHING - MILITARY:

2001 - present
Facilitator/instructor University of Mary, College of Professional Studies, Fargo Center.
Facilitator in business ethics and law in the Graduate Division.
 
1969 -1995
Naval Officer, U.S. Naval Reserve, Public Affairs Specialist.
Retired with the rank of Captain (O-6).
Directed Navy Public Affairs projects at home and overseas. Assignments included adjunct instructor duties in Public Affairs at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.
 
1979-1981
Adjunct faculty member Northwestern University Graduate School of Journalism, Evanston, Illinois.
Developed and taught a graduate school course on practical news reporting about the State and Federal Court systems in Chicago.
 
1983-1997
 
1991-1997
 

HOBBIES: Flyfishing, canoeing, motorcycling.



C O N T A C T     M E   |   Dennis Fisher

TELEPHONE: 701-298-9363 | MOBILE PHONE: 701-361-1451
E-MAIL: dfisher@ndjustice.com