Author: Leverson Budke

If you have been convicted or charged with a crime, you have a criminal record. A criminal record is defined as a “list of a person’s previous criminal convictions.” However, like many states, Minnesota makes some arrest accounts part of your official criminal record. Many people with a criminal record are unaware of how this can negatively impact your future and what crimes can be...

DISCLAIMER: Leverson Budke does not offer assistance for the Ignition Interlock program in any way. We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide for the Minnesota Ignition Interlock program as a service to our clients, however this is purely informational.  We are unable to assist you in any capacity with the planning, process or implementation of Minnesota’s ignition interlock program. With that...

On April 12 of this year, newly-elected Governor Tim Walz signed into law the new Minnesota Hands-Free Law, which broadly prohibits the handheld use of one’s cellular device while driving or operating a motor vehicle. (See https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/hands-free/Pages/default.aspx). The law goes into effect on August 1, 2019 and will remain in effect unless and until the legislature passes...

The criminal defense lawyers of Leverson Budke are Minnesota’s leading experts in Minnesota expungement laws. They have extensive experience and can point to many successes, even for very serious convictions. They provide free initial consultations to help you seal your criminal record, and every caller will speak to an attorney on the phone. But what exactly is expungement? What...

One of the most frequent questions we get asked by folks that have gotten a DWI is, “Can you get a DWI expunged?”  The quick answer is Yes, if you were convicted of driving while intoxicated, you may be eligible to seek expungement for a DWI. Expungement is the process by which an individual can have a certain entry removed from his or her criminal record. Although this particular...

Attorney Nick Leverson filed a petition for judicial review of his client’s license revocation following a DWI charge. After convincing the court that his client only submitted to the blood test when the officer threatened to charge him with an unconstitutional crime, the client’s driver’s license and license plates were returned to him, and the derogatory reference was removed from the...

Good news. Theft is an offense for which the remedy of expungement is available in Minnesota. Expungement is the process by which an individual can have a certain entry removed from his or her criminal record. For many people, a theft charge is accompanied by consequences that are disproportionate to the actual behavior. For example, in Minnesota, the level of offense (misdemeanor, gross...

Court of Appeals Update: State v. Mike (Decided August 27, 2018) The defendant in State v. Mike was in a motorcycle accident in October of 2017 (DWI Law). When officers arrived at the scene, they believed that Mike may have been under the influence of alcohol. En route to the hospital, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for Mike’s blood. Officers executed the search warrant at...

On any given week, we field close to a dozen phone calls about gun rights. And in any given week, those conversations go in about a dozen different directions. Gun laws are complex. The interplay between state and federal statutes leave many people, attorneys included, scratching their head. That is why the attorneys at Leverson Budke strive to stay current in this particular field. While...

IMPORTANT MN EXPUNGEMENT WAITING PERIOD DECISION: How Long Do I Have to Wait to Seek Expungement? We Finally Know the Answer! New Expungement Waiting Period The amount of time you have to wait before petitioning the court for a Minnesota expungement generally depends on how your case was initially resolved. If you entered a guilty plea at the time your case was resolved, then you must wait...