MEET

Catherine
Turner.

SERVICES and SPECIALITIES

Fearless Representation from a 5 Star Female Criminal Defense Attorney in Minnesota, Minneapolis

Specializes in Criminal Sexual Conduct

Catherine is an experienced criminal defense attorney that defends against criminal sexual conduct, solicitation, and other charges.

Criminal Defense

Work with a passionate, certified and experienced criminal law specialist.

Client Testimonials

Serving clients for almost 20 years, and earning appreciation from relieved and happy clients.

Meet Catherine Turner - 5 Star, Female Defense Attorney

EXPERIENCE

Catherine is a Minnesota Bar Association Certified Criminal Law Specialist and has been practicing criminal defense exclusively since 2005. She has had over 50 trials and conducted hundreds of evidentiary, motions, or suppression hearings in state and federal court. As a former public defender and longtime federal practitioner, she has spent thousands of hours in the courtroom sparring with prosecutors, cross-examining witnesses, persuading judges, and connecting with jurors. She has written thousands of pages of briefs and sentencing memoranda. She knows what it takes to litigate a case and has success winning in trial, getting charges dismissed before trial, and convincing judges to reduce or mitigate sentences to her client’s benefit when there is a conviction.
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Why Hire Catherine?

Catherine believes in being honest and direct with her clients. Whether it’s explaining complex legal topics, discussing options, or talking about your side of what happened, Catherine will listen. She will explain your rights and what to expect throughout the criminal process. She will talk to you about what your priorities are, and what she can realistically do for you. Sometimes the best thing to do is go to trial. Sometimes it’s not. Catherine knows that criminal convictions have broad collateral consequences that follow people way beyond the courtroom. She wants to help you keep your record clean.
If you have made a mistake, she won’t judge you. If you’re wrongfully accused, she will go to the mat to try and prevent your conviction. She will listen with compassion, and zealously advocate for you. While some cases do end up in trial, the vast majority resolve without a formal verdict. Catherine is just as tough negotiating with the prosecutor as she is arguing before a jury. Everybody’s case is different, and Catherine is a 5 star female criminal defense attorney who has the experience, knowledge, and skills to defend you no matter what the circumstances.. She will fight the Government. She’s here to fight for you!

LEGAL EDUCATOR AND MENTOR

Catherine trains her peers in important legal topics

Catherine serves as a mentor to younger lawyers, and trains her peers in important legal topics both in Minnesota and on a national level. Here are some of the topics on which Catherine has presented:

  • Spring 2023
    MN Board of Public Defense Trial School
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    Presenting to Students where Catherine has been faculty for several years.
  • February 2020, San Diego
    NACDL MID-WINTER CONFERENCE
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    The Great Google Fishing Expedition: Challenging Geofence Reverse Location Data Post-Carpenter
  • February - April 2019
    LOCAL SEMINAR
    CLT doing CLE
    A Practitioner’s Guide to Fighting Eye-Witness and Cross-Racial Identification; local seminars for public defenders, Minnesota
  • September 2015
    LOCAL SEMINAR
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    The State of the Fourth Amendment in the Age of Edward Snowden • Ramsey County Bar Association
  • May 2014
    LOCAL SEMINAR
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    A Holistic Approach to Representing Clients with Mental Health Challenges, Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

EXPERIENCE

Professional Life & Work

  • 2008 - Present
    CEO
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    Solo Practitioner, Catherine Turner, Attorney at Law, PLLC • Owner/CEO/President/Lawyer Goddess
  • 2010 - Present
    CJA PANEL ATTORNEY
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    Active Member, CJA panel attorney, United States District Court • District of Minnesota
  • FT 2006-08, PT 2011-21
    ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER
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    Minnesota Board of Public Defense, Dakota County
  • 2002-2005
    CERTIFIED STUDENT ATTORNEY
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    Office of the Federal Defender • Law Clerk/Certified Student Attorney • District of Oregon

Accused of a crime or a Title IX complaint?

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Catherine's Professional Associations

  • 2008 - Present
    MN ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
    Catherine with Mark Hasse
    Member, 2008-present • Board member 2011-2017 • Catherine and Mark Haase testifying on criminal justice issues on behalf of MACDL at the MN State Capitol, 2016 (pictured).
  • 2012 - Present
    NACDL
    NatAssCrimDefLaw
    Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2008 - Present
    MN STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
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    Member of the Minnesota Bar Association
  • 2016 - Present
    FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION
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    Member of the Federal Bar Association

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Top notch schools & practice opportunities

  • 2002
    UNDERGRADUATE
    Arnold_House_School_of_Public_Health_and_Health_Sciences_UMass_Amherst_MA
    B.A. Political Science • University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • 2005
    LAW SCHOOL
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    Juris Doctor degree • Lewis & Clark Law School • Portland, OR
  • 2006
    TRIAL SCHOOL
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    Minnesota Board of Public Defense Trial School • St. Paul, MN
  • July 2012
    TRIAL SCHOOL
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    National Criminal Defense College • Macon, GA

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