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A Chicago native, Howard Bass enrolled at Mankato State University in 1977 to play football. He was elected student association president in 1980 and graduated the following year in the top 10% of his class with a degree in political science and economics.
Howard returned to Chicago to attend DePaul University Law School in 1981. He received the American Jurisprudence Award in Constitutional Law in 1982, became a managing editor of the DePaul Law Review the following year, and graduated in the top 10% of his class in 1984.
Fresh out of law school, Howard moved to the Mississippi Delta, the poorest part of America's poorest state, where he practiced as the Assistant Washington County Public Defender in Greenville, Mississippi, from 1984 to 1988. While there, he became a Mississippi Civil Liberties Union board member and helped elect Mississippi's first African-American Congressman since Reconstruction. Howard also organized the Mississippi Public Defenders Association and was elected its president in 1987.
In 1988, Howard returned to Minnesota and became an associate at Thomson & Ellis in St. Paul. The following year, Howard left Thomson & Ellis to be an associate at Meshbesher, Singer & Spence in Minneapolis. Other than Hennepin County District Court Judge Jack Nordby, Howard is the only Twin Cities lawyer to have practiced with Doug Thomson and Ron Meshbesher, both legendary Minnesota criminal defense attorneys.
Howard became a partner at Meshbesher & Spence in 1994 and practiced there until 2004, when he left to form the Bass Law Firm (originally known as Bass & Peck). During those ten years, he was a Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers board member and served as that organization's president in 2002.
In 2005, Howard was elected to the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota board of directors. He was also elected Senate District 35 DFL Chair and mnpACT! Treasurer.
Over the years, Howard has coached youth football, basketball and soccer in Lakeville. He has also taught Sunday school and led the youth group and outreach ministry at Open Circle Church in Burnsville. He also coached the Lakeville South High School mock trial team for four years, taking them to two state tournaments.
Howard is routinely recognized by Minnesota Law & Politics as a "Super Lawyer" and is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America . Minnesota Law & Politics has recognized Howard Bass as a "Top 40 Criminal Defense Super Lawyer," and Minnesota Monthly has recognized Howard as one of the "Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota."
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Chat withState: Minnesota
Acquired: 1988
No misconduct found
State: Mississippi
Acquired: 1984
No misconduct found
3000 County Road 42 West, Suite 310, Burnsville, MN, 55337
8 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 7 reviews | Advocacy
Posted by Jeff | February 18, 2019 | Hired Attorney
Hands down The BEST ATTORNEY!
When Howard took my case all my stress and anxiety subsided. He is a professional lawyer who takes his job seriously. Everything he said was going to happen in my case materialized. Howard exceeded my expectation. If you’re looking for an experienced well versed attorney, look no further. He will fig...
Posted by Josh | June 22, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Relentless in his pursuit of justice on a felony PV
I retained Dakota County, Minnesota attorney Howard Bass for a felony probation violation that had a lot of moving parts. At one point, I had a warrant hanging over my head and was ordered to be incarcerated. The warrant, and ordered jail time, were ruled on a technicality and on an interpretation of...
Thanks for your kind words, Josh. It has been a pleasure to assist you in this matter.
Posted by anonymous | June 21, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Grade A+
Howard Bass is a very good Lawyer, he is knowledgeable and professional. For what I was charged with he was able to talk with the prosecutor and get the best possible outcome for my case which was a stay of adjudication, the charge against me will be completely off my record in one year. Highly rec...
Posted by Alex | March 07, 2018 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
2nd Degree DUI
Mr. Bass helped me with my recent 2nd degree DUI case. He was able to work out a plea bargain to help me avoid any additional jail time (1 day served normally 90 day minimum), he also worked out a great option for my vehicle forfeiture where I was able to sell my vehicle and avoid a hit on my credit....
Posted by anonymous | January 30, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Juvenile
Highly Recommend
our child ended up in Juvenile court. We were told we did not need a lawyer. However, we trusted our gut that something was not handled correctly and given our child's disability issues we felt the situation needed a closer look. We had an initial consultation, explaining all the issues that were hap...
"I endorse this lawyer. Howard is one of the pre-eminent criminal defense attorneys in the state of Minnesota. I have frequently referred clients to him and they all rave about what a great lawyer he is. Howard is the attorney to call if you need help with a criminal matter."
"Howard Bass is an excellent attorney. I met him when I was a prosecutor for the City of Minneapolis. Mr. Bass represented a number of high-profile clients who were charged with criminal offenses, including DUI. I remember one DUI case in particular, where Mr. Bass was able to get the charges dismissed by successfully arguing that the initial traffic stop was improper. At the time, I remember thinking that the issue was not winnable by the defense. My office, aware of Mr. Bass' tenacity, assigned one of the most experienced attorneys to oppose the motion to suppress. Mr. Bass, however, did a thorough job researching the constitutional issues. He made a persuasive argument and he won the motion."
Divorce and separation lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
2026
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Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
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Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2006
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2006
Top 40 Criminal Defense Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine
2005
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2005
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2004
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2004
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America
2004
Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota, Minnesota Monthly
2003
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
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Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
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Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine
1984
JD - Juris Doctor
N/A
English