On Thursday, January 2, 2025, the Supreme Court of Minnesota disbarred attorney Anders L. Odegaard following his murder conviction.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Anders L. Odegaard.”
August 31, 2022, Odegaard was charged with second-degree murder for the death of his ex-wife. According to the criminal complaint, the murder took place during an assault witnessed by their minor child. Odegaard was convicted on December 22, 2023, and subsequently sentenced to 220 months in prison by the district court on January 29, 2024.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized that Odegaard’s actions constituted a violation of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically Rule 8.4(b), which prohibits attorneys from committing criminal acts that reflect poorly on their honesty and fitness to practice law. The court deemed the allegations in the petition admitted due to Odegaard’s failure to respond.
The court outlined several factors that influenced its decision to impose disbarment. First, it categorized the nature of Odegaard’s misconduct as extremely serious, given that it involved a violent felony and occurred in the presence of a child. The court further noted that such actions can severely undermine public confidence in the legal profession.
Additionally, the court considered the cumulative weight of the misconduct, the harm caused to the public, and the detrimental effects on the legal profession as a whole. The court clarified that while only one instance of misconduct was at issue, the gravity of the crime warranted severe disciplinary action.
In the absence of any mitigating circumstances—since Odegaard did not contest the allegations or submit any defense—the court found no grounds to lessen the severity of the discipline. The ruling emphasized consistency with previous cases, noting that disbarment has been the standard sanction for attorneys convicted of murder in Minnesota.
As a result of the disbarment, Odegaard is required to notify his clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals of his disqualification from practicing law. Furthermore, he has been ordered to pay $900 in costs associated with the disciplinary proceedings.
According to the filing, Mr. Odegaard acquired his law license in Minnesota in 2018.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
