Nick Thornton
Nick loves all aspects of the legal process, both in and out of the courtroom. He brings this passion to each and every one of his clients, working hard to help them achieve their desired results.
Experience and Values
Nick is not the type of man to simply rest on his laurels; rather, he has taken an interest in constantly improving himself through ongoing education and training. In addition to his undergraduate degree in criminal justice and his law degree, Nick has also achieved a Masters of Business Administration and is currently working towards a Ph.D. in criminal justice. Nick is one of very few North Dakota criminal defense attorneys who have graduated from the prestigious National Criminal Defense College Trial Practice Institute. Nick is also a graduate of the Western Trial Advocacy Institute.
Practice Areas and Skills
Nick’s career has taken him through a variety of legal practices, including criminal law, family law, personal injury, and general litigation. He discovered early on that his true calling lay in criminal defense. He has represented thousands of people charged with committing crimes in North Dakota and Minnesota. Nick is dedicated to his work and is involved throughout the entire process of criminal proceedings, from the arraignment all the way through post-conviction proceedings, if the case ever gets that far. He has a passion for helping people and strives to always get his clients the justice they deserve.
What Makes Nick the Attorney He Is Today
Nick got his start clerking for Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner at the North Dakota Supreme Courtbefore joining the Fargo Public Defender’s Office, where he spent the bulk of his career. He now works at Fremstad Law, where his practice areas include criminal defense, DWI/DUI cases, appeals, post-conviction relief, quasi-criminal administrative matters, and litigation.
Community Involvement
Nick is a member of the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where he was twice elected to the Board of Directors and as President. He is currently the Chair of the association’s Scholarship Endowment Committee and a member of the Legislative Committee. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as well. Nick maintains memberships in the American, Cass County, and North Dakota State Bar Associations. He served as the President of the Cass County Bar Association from 2017-2018. He is the Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee. He is also a member of the Joint Committee on Attorney Standards for the North Dakota Supreme Court. Throughout his career, Nick has participated in a variety of radio shows, panels, and presentations throughout North Dakota and has been published in several magazines and law reviews. Nick has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses on criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, and business law at Minnesota State University Moorhead and at the University of Mary. Nick volunteers as a board member and youth wrestling coach for the Tech Team Wrestling Club in West Fargo, ND.
Things You May Be Interested in Knowing About Nick
Nick is originally from Jamestown, North Dakota. While at the University of North Dakota School of Law, he was elected to the Order of the Coif. Nick is married with two sons who are very active in football, baseball, and wrestling, which keeps his family very busy with travel, practices and games. When he’s not working, teaching or coaching, Nick loves cooking, and spending time with his family and friends.
