Howard Bass - Burnsville, MN
Attorney at Bass Law Firm, PLLC
Criminal Law Lawyers in Burnsville, MN
3000 County Road 42 West Suite 310 Burnsville, MN 55337
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
42
Years
Experience
Burnsville Criminal Law Lawyer
Updated: 05/15/2026
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Law 100%
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
A Chicago native, I enrolled at Mankato State University in 1977 to play football. I was elected student association president in 1980 and graduated the following year in the top 10% of my class with a degree in political science and economics.
I returned to Chicago to attend DePaul University Law School in 1981. I 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 my class in 1984.
Fresh out of law school, I moved to the Mississippi Delta, the poorest part of America's poorest state, where I practiced as the Assistant Washington County Public Defender in Greenville, Mississippi, from 1984 to 1988. While there, I became a Mississippi Civil Liberties Union board member and helped elect Mississippi's first Black Congressman since Reconstruction. I also organized the Mississippi Public Defenders Association and was elected its president in 1987.
In 1988, I returned to Minnesota and became an associate at Thomson & Ellis in St. Paul. The following year, I left Thomson & Ellis to be an associate at Meshbesher, Singer & Spence in Minneapolis. Other than retired Hennepin County District Court Judge Jack Nordby, I am the only Twin Cities lawyer to have practiced with Doug Thomson and Ron Meshbesher, both legendary Minnesota criminal defense attorneys.
I became a partner at Meshbesher & Spence in 1994 and practiced there until 2004, when I left to form the Bass Law Firm (originally known as Bass & Peck). During those ten years, I was a Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers board member and served as that organization's president in 2002.
In 2005, I was elected to the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota board of directors. I was also elected Senate District 35 DFL Chair and mnpACT! Treasurer.
Over the years, I have coached youth football, basketball and soccer in Lakeville. I have also taught Sunday school and led the youth group and outreach ministry at Open Circle Church in Burnsville. I also coached the Lakeville South High School mock trial team for four years, taking them to two state tournaments.
I am routinely recognized by Minnesota Law & Politics as a "Super Lawyer" and am also listed in The Best Lawyers in America. Minnesota Law & Politics has recognized me as a "Top 40 Criminal Defense Super Lawyer," and Minnesota Monthly has recognized me as one of the "Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota."
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Minnesota Law & Politics "Super Lawyer", 2001 - Present
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2004 - Present
- Minnesota Monthly "Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota", 2006 - Present
- Minnesota Law & Politics "Top 40 Criminal Defense Super Lawyers", 2006
- Minnesota State Bar Association Outstanding Professionalism Award, 2007
- American Jurisprudence Award Constitutional Law, 1982
Other Sources of Feedback About Howard Bass
Included on the 2026 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2005 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2004 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2003 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2002 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
DePaul University College of Law,
Chicago,
Illinois, 1984
J.D.
Honors: magna cum laude
Law Review: DePaul Law Review, Managing Editor, 1983 - 1984
-
DePaul University College of Law,
Chicago,
Illinois, 1984
-
Non Legal Education
-
Mankato State University,
Mankato,
Minnesota, 1981
B.A.
Honors: magna cum laude
Honors: President, Mankato State University Student Association, 1980-1981
-
Mankato State University,
Mankato,
Minnesota, 1981
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney
Past Positions
- Washington County, Greenville, Mississippi, Assistant Public Defender, 1984 - 1988
- Thomson & Ellis, St. Paul, Minnesota, Associate, 1988 - 1989
- Meshbesher & Spence, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Associate, 1989 - 1994
- Meshbesher & Spence, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Partner, 1994 - 2004
Pro Bono Activities
- Lakeville South High School Mock Trial Coach, 2004 - 2008
- Lakeville Youth Football, Basketball & Soccer Coach, 1997 - 2004
- Open Circle Church Outreach Ministry Team Leader, 2004 - 2007
- Open Circle Church Youth Group Leader, 2002 - 2006
- Open Circle Church Sunday School Teacher, 1995 - 2000
- mnpACT! (Minnesota Network for Progressive Action) Board Member, 2004 - Present
- mnpACT! (Minnesota Network for Progressive Action) Treasurer, 2006 - Present
- Minnesota Voter Protection Project Dakota & Scott County Counsel, 2004 - 2006
- Camp Wellstone Graduate, 2005 - Present
- Senate District 35 DFL Chair, 2005 - 2008
- Senate District 35 DFL Treasurer, 2004 - 2005
- Scott County DFL Secretary, 2004 - 2005
- Credit River Township DFL Precinct Chair, 2004 - 2005
- Minnesotans Against the Death Penalty Steering Committee Member, 2004 - 2006
Representative Cases
-
United States v. Jeffrey A. Siewert
- Citation: 2008 WL 4635258
- Court: United States District Court Minnesota
- Year: 2008
-
State of Minnesota v. Daniel Alan Kuhlman
- Citation: 729 N.W.2d 577
- Court: Minnesota Supreme Court
- Year: 2007
-
State of Minnesota v. Daniel Alan Kuhlman
- Citation: 722 N.W.2d 1
- Court: Minnesota Court of Appeals
- Year: 2006
Published Works
Articles
-
"Quilici v. Village of Morton Grove: Ammunition for a National Handgun Ban", 32 De Paul L. Rev. 317, 1983
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1984
- Minnesota, 1988
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1988
Other Affiliations
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1989 - Present (Member)
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2002 - 2003 (President)
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1994 - 2004 (Board Member)
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1989 - Present (Member)
- Mississippi Public Defenders Association, 1986 - 1987 (President)
- Mississippi Public Defenders Association, 1985 - 1987 (Board Member)
- American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, 2005 - Present (Board Member)
- American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, 2005 - Present (Volunteer Attorney)
- Mississippi Civil Liberties Union, 1985 - 1987 (Board Member)
Contact
3000 County Road 42 West
Suite 310
Burnsville, MN 55337
Fax: 952-224-0185
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.thebasslawfirm.com
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (weekend and after hours appointments available)
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