James Fleming

JAMES “JIM” FLEMING has almost 40 years of experience as a prosecutor and public defender. He served for eleven years as Chief Public Defender in Minnesota – in the 5th Judicial District (Mankato) from 2001 to 2007 and in the 2nd Judicial District (St. Paul) from 2016 to 2022.  Prior to that he was a partner in Maschka, Riedy & Ries Law Firm for almost ten years with a focus on personal injury and criminal defense.

Now retired, his trial experience includes more than 100 trial-to-verdict jury cases. He was named Minnesota Attorney of the Year in 2012 and 2019 and was chosen as a Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics. Fleming is a certified Criminal Law Specialist and has taught trial advocacy in Minnesota and several other states.

He holds a B.B.A. from St. Norbert College (De Pere, WI) and a J.D. from William Mitchell School of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law.)  He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Minnesota Association for Justice.