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Charlie Rooney

Charlie Rooney

J.D. from University of St. Thomas, Magna Cum Laude

Former prosecutor for County Attorney’s Office

Clerked for the Chief Judge of Hennepin County

Eric Nelson

Eric Nelson

Attorney of the Year (Minnesota Lawyer 2022)

Named one of the TOP 40 UNDER 40 by the National Trial Lawyers' Association

"Rising Star" from 2004-2013

"Super Lawyer" 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019

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Debbie Lang

Debbie Lang

Top 100 National Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers' Association

Co-Editor of the Minnesota DWI Deskbook

Super Lawyer (2020-present)

Super Lawyer Rising Star (2012, 2014-2017)

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Dave Risk

Dave Risk

Super Lawyer (2014-present)

Super Lawyer Rising Star (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008-2011)

J.D. William Mitchell College of Law magna cum laude graduate

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Christina Zauhar

Christina Zauhar

Up & Coming Attorney (Minnesota Lawyer 2017)

Super Lawyer Rising Star (2017-present)

Member of Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice (2021-present)

Member of Minnesota Women Lawyers (2012-present)

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Marsh Halberg

Marsh Halberg

Top Six Criminal Defense Attorneys (Mpls/St. Paul Magazine)

Attorney of the Year (Minnesota Lawyer 2011 & 2017)

Super Lawyer (1997-Present)

Co-Editor of the Minnesota DWI Deskbook

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Lucas Dawson

Lucas Dawson

Super Lawyer Rising Star (2017-present)

Human Services Background Study Eligibility Task Force - Remedies Subcommittee Chair 2022

Human Services Background Study Eligibility Task Force Member 2021 - 2022

Requested speaker at Minnesota CLEs

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Zach Graham

Zach Graham

J.D. St. Thomas School of Law, cum laude

Licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Achieved successful outcomes for clients in district court and on appeal

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New MN DWI Testing Refusal Rules


HomePractice AreasBlogs - Testing Refusal

Minnesota Supreme Courts New Rules on DWI Testing Refusal

The U.S. Supreme Court changed the face of DWI Refusal law as applied to Minnesota drivers, ruling in its 2016 decision Birchfield v. North Dakota that refusal of a blood test could be charged as a crime only if law enforcement obtains a search warrant or the state can establish that a valid exception to the warrant requirement applied.

After Birchfield, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a driver’s refusal to take a blood or a urine test subsequent to a DWI arrest cannot be a crime unless police have a valid search warrant or upon a showing that a valid exception to the warrant requirement applies.

In 2018, the Minnesota Supreme Court found in Johnson v. State, that the ‘Birchfield Rule’ was a new substantive rule of constitutional law and therefore could be applied retroactively. The court also held that a prior guilty plea to a DWI/Test Refusal offense involving a blood or urine test was not a bar to bringing a post-conviction Fourth Amendment challenge.

On October 2, 2019, in Fagin v. Minnesota, the Minnesota Supreme Court clarified which facts a defendant must establish when filing post-conviction petitions asserting the invalidity of a DWI test refusal conviction. Prior to Fagin, the Supreme Court had not decided which party bears the burden to demonstrate the applicability of an exception to the warrant requirement in a post-conviction proceeding.

The Court, in an opinion written by Justice David Lillehaug, first held that the defendant/petitioner bears the burden to allege and prove (1) that there was no warrant; and (2) no applicable exception to the warrant requirement applied.

Next, the Court established a ‘heightened pleading’ standard for so-called Birchfield/Johnson post-conviction proceedings. Under this standard, the defendant/petitioner must (1) affirmatively allege that no search warrant was issued; (2) that no warrant exception was applicable. The obligation to plead then shifts to the state under Minn. Stat. § 590.03, which requires the state to respond by answer or motion. If the state disputes defendant/petitioner’s allegations, the state must plead specifically the existence of the warrant or exception relied on and the grounds therefore in sufficient detail to give the defendant/petitioner adequate notice of the state’s position.

“The rule we announce today gives both the petitioner and the State sufficient information for motion practice or an evidentiary hearing under [Minn. Stat.] section 590.04, and reduces the likelihood of evidentiary hearing by ambush,” Lillehaug wrote. This rule is limited to the context of Birchfield/Johnson proceedings and does not alter the general pleading requirements in standard post conviction cases, the court held.

If you find yourself facing criminal charges involving DWI/DUI/OWI or Test Refusal issues, you need a criminal defense attorney with deep legal knowledge and a willingness to fight on your behalf in any court. At Halberg Criminal Defense, our team approach puts the firm’s collective knowledge and experience in your court. Our attorneys are available 24-7 — Call us at 612-DEFENSE (612-333-3673).

Contact us for a free consultation

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