John Hinrichs - Sioux Falls, SD
Attorney at Heidepriem, Purtell, Siegel & Hinrichs, LLP
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Sioux Falls, SD
101 West 69th Street Suite 105A Sioux Falls, SD 57108
- Free Consultation
Sioux Falls Criminal Defense Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Defense 60%
- Civil Litigation 40%
Litigation: 90%
Attorney Information
Overview
John is an experienced trial attorney and partner at HPS Law Firm. John practices in all areas of litigation, including personal injury, and particularly enjoys criminal defense. John practices in both federal and state court. John also has extensive experience as an appellate attorney, and has argued before the South Dakota Supreme Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
John grew up on a farm in northeast South Dakota, and graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2000. After law school, John served as a judicial clerk in Minnesota. In 2001, John returned to South Dakota and worked as a trial attorney for the Minnehaha County Public Defender's Office until 2007, which provided him with extensive courtroom and trial experience. While with the Public Defender's Office, he tried more than two dozen jury trials to verdict, ranging from DUI to murder.
From 2007-2016, John served as a Magistrate Judge for South Dakota's 2nd Judicial Circuit, presiding over criminal and civil matters, and dozens of criminal and civil jury trials. During that time he also proudly chaired the Minnehaha County Veterans Treatment Court Team, which established the second Veterans Treatment Court in South Dakota. In 2013, the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association awarded John the Toast of the Trial Lawyers Award for his work as a judge.
John practices in all areas of litigation. He also specializes in criminal defense ranging from petty misdemeanors to first degree murder.
John is a member of the South Dakota Committee for the Great North Innocence Project, an organization that works to free the wrongfully convicted and prevent wrongful convictions from occurring in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. John serves on the selection committee for the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Southern Division of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. John is a member of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, the South Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
John is currently a member of the board of directors of Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare, the largest community mental health care provider in South Dakota. John is a former member of the board of directors of Feeding South Dakota, South Dakota's largest hunger relief organization; a former member of the Minnehaha County Veterans Treatment Court Advisory Committee; and a former member of the Minnehaha County Pre-trial Reform Work Group.
John and his wife, Amy, live in Sioux Falls with their sons, Jack and Dylan.
John's e-mail address is john@hpslawfirm.com. John can also be reached by calling the law firm directly.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Toast of the Trial Lawyers Award, South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, 2013 - Present
Education
-
Legal Education
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University of South Dakota School of Law,
Vermillion,
South Dakota
J.D.
Law Journal: Great Plains Natural Resources Journal, Editor in Chief, 1999 - 2000
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University of South Dakota School of Law,
Vermillion,
South Dakota
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of South Dakota,
Vermillion,
South Dakota, 1997
B.S.
Honors: With High Honors
Major: History, Political Science
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University of South Dakota,
Vermillion,
South Dakota, 1997
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Past Positions
- Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office, Asst. Public Defender, 2001 - 2007
- South Dakota’s 2nd Judicial Circuit, Magistrate Judge, 2007 - 2016
Classes and Seminars
- Criminal Prosecution and Defense, University of South Dakota, 2017
Pro Bono Activities
- Great North Innocence Project - South Dakota Committee, 2019 - Present
- Criminal Justice Act Panel for District of South Dakota, Southern Division - Committee Member, 2018 - Present
Bar Admissions
- South Dakota, 2001
- U.S. District Court District of South Dakota, 2016
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2019
Other Affiliations
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, 2016 - Present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2016 - Present
- South Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2016 - Present
- South Dakota Judges Association, 2007 - 2016
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Kappa Alpha
Photo
Contact
101 West 69th Street
Suite 105A
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Phone: 605-252-9277
Fax: 605-679-4379
Email: Send a message
Hours: M-F: 8am – 5pm
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