James Henry Gempeler

I am one of the founding partners North Star Law Group. I am the head of the Criminal Defense practice group, where we represent clients facing criminal charges throughout the State of Minnesota, including but not limited to, DUIs, Assaults, Domestic Assaults, Thefts, Shoplifting, Weapons Charges, Criminal Vehicular Operation, Damage to Property, Drug Crimes, Murder, various sex crimes, Misdemeanors, Gross Misdemeanors, Felonies, Traffic Violations, Threats of Violence, Probation Violations, and Appeals. Beyond that, we specialize in obtaining expungements for deserving clients throughout the State, including the often difficult-to-achieve expungements of DWI records.

The North Star Criminal Defense approach is based on the singular belief that just because a person is charged with a crime does not make them a criminal. Good people can make mistakes that lead them to the criminal justice system. Our defense of each client is threefold: (1) develop a personalized legal strategy based on the big picture for each client, including understanding both the criminal and collateral consequences that could come from the criminal case; (2) we are Not Always Minnesota Nice when fighting for our clients - we know when to negotiate, when to fight, and how to utilize both to achieve the just result for the client; and (3) we are prepared to take the case to trial if necessary, where our trial skills shine. The North Star Criminal Defense team is stacking trial win after trial win, and on complicated, challenging cases, including a nine-count attempted murder case where the self-defense theory prevailed.

This individualized approach is what led to the North Star Law Group taking form. The Law Group overall assists clients in most any legal needs, including business formation, litigation, and the newly formed legalized cannabis counsel. We strive to take advantage of technology to create greater efficiencies in our representation that yields better and faster results, plus lower costs for our clients. We have a unique firm structure that is designed to put the client first and not line the attorneys' pockets. And we have built a firm culture where we are hard-working, driven, and humble - even though we thrive in achieving the results needed for our clients. We are confident that we can provide the legal services you need.