For the past 25 years, Mike Brandt has devoted himself to defending those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Starting as a public defender in 1994, Mike represented clients on every type of criminal charge — from murder to speeding — and conducted jury trials on cases involving homicide, sexual assault, physical assault, drugs crimes, theft, and various other charges. Over the years as a public defender, Mike repeatedly secured dismissals, suppression of evidence, and defeated probation violations. After establishing a record as a zealous advocate for his clients, Mike was courted into private practice.
In 1999, Mike joined Caplan and Taburino, a prominent Minneapolis criminal defense firm. While there, Mike again defended clients on various diverse charges, including DWIs, vehicle forfeitures, and license revocations.
Thanks to his reputation and experience, Mike started teaching continuing legal education seminars in the areas of evidence, DWI crime, technological issues, and trial strategies.
In 2003, Mike left Caplan and Tamburino to start his own firm. For nearly 3 years, the firm of Jasper & Brandt, PLLC represented hundreds of clients on a wide range of criminal charges.
In December 2005, his law partner became a district court judge in Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District. Upon the departure of his partner, Mike formed Brandt Kettwick Defense, PLLC. Since its start with one attorney and one assistant, the firm has expanded to a team of four attorneys, three paralegals, and four law clerks.
Mike and his team work together to represent clients facing every type of criminal charge. Mike continues to speak at continuing legal education seminars, as well as acting as a mentor for new attorneys and law students.
In 2002, Mike was recognized by Minnesota Law and Politics magazine as a Rising Star. In 2003, he was recognized by other attorneys in the state as a Super Lawyer, a distinction given to less than 6% of lawyers in the state, and he has received this honor every year since then. In 2015, Super Lawyers rated Mike as one of the top 100 Super Lawyers in Minnesota. Mike has been rated as a top 100 lawyer every year since 2015.
Topic
Association
Date
Criminal Law Trial School
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2019
Castle Doctrine Laws
KARE 11 News
2019
DWI Collateral Consequences
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2019
Delivering Excellent Client Service
University of St. Thomas School of Law
2019
Avoiding Ethical Issues in Criminal Practice
Minnesota Lawyers Mutual
2018
Criminal Law Trial School
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2018
Personal Trial Victories
Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice
2017
Collateral Consequences of Certain Charges
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2016
Forfeitures in Minnesota and Pretrial Use of Polygraphs
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2015
Motion Practice in a Criminal Case
Minnesota State Bar Association
2015
Direct Examination of Your Client in a DWI
Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice
2015
Using Police Reports in Implied Consent Hearings
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2014
Litigating Order For Protection Cases
Anoka County Bar Association
2013
Interstate Compact on Adult Offender Supervision
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2013
Anoka County Procedures
Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice
2012
Anoka County DWI Procedures
Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice
2012
Utilizing Court Interpreters
Anoka County Bar Association
2010
Motor Vehicle Forfeitures in DWIs
Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice
2010
Basics of DUI
Anoka County Bar Association
2009
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery
Anoka County Bar Association
2009
Challenging the Intoxilyzer Machine
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2008
Evidence in a DWI Case
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2005
Criminal Law 101
West Publishing
2005
Challenging the Intoxilyzer Machine
Minnesota Public Defenders
2005
Trial Advocacy
Hamline Law School
2005
Winning the One-on-One Sex Case
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2004
Cultivating DUI Defenses
All-District Legal
2004
Challenging the Intoxilyzer Machine
Minnesota Public Defenders
2004
Trial Advocacy
Hamline Law School
2003
DWI Basics
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2003
Evidence in a DWI Case
MSBA Continuing Legal Education
2003
Successful Negotiations in DWI Cases
All-District Legal
2003
Evidence in Courtrooms
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education
1999
Challenging the Intoxilyzer Machine
Minnesota Public Defenders
2003
Article
Publication
Date
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2019
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2019
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2018
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2018
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2017
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2017
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2016
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2016
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2015
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2015
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2014
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2014
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2013
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2013
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2012
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2012
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2011
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2011
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2010
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2010
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2009
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2009
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2008
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2008
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2007
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2007
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2006
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2006
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2005
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2005
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2004
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2004
Evidence and Discovery Chapter
Minnesota DWI Deskbook – Minnesota CLE
2003
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases
Aspatore Books
2003
Position
Association
Date
Member
Hennepin County Bar Association
2018-present
Member
Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice
2008-present
Member
Anoka County Bar Association
2003-present
Member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
2000-present
Member
Minnesota State Bar Association
1999-present
Member
Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
1999-present
Board Member
Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
2007-2015
Former President
Anoka County Bar Association
2014-2015
Former President
Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
2014-2015
Position
Association
Date
Mentor
Mitchell Hamline School of Law
2018-present
Mentor
University of St. Thomas Law School
2016-present
Guest Lecturer
Toulouse Law School
2016-present
Guest Lecturer
St. Louis Park High School
1995-present
Guest Lecturer
Edina High School
1995-present
Guest Lecturer
Wayzata High School
1995-present
Member
Anoka County Courthouse Remodeling Committee
2013-2015
Volunteer Coach
St. Louis Park Soccer
2002-2005
Volunteer
St. Louis Park Hockey
2000-2003
Volunteer
St. Louis Park Baseball
1996-2004
Board Member
St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission
1998-1999
Board Member
St. Louis Park Little League
1997-1999
Board Member
10th Judicial District Bias Elimination Team
1996-1999
Board Member
University of Minnesota Student Legal Services
1990-1991
Member
Anoka County Court Appointed Counsel Committee
Member
Anoka County Domestic Abuse Pilot Project
Member
Minnesota Supreme Court Race Committee
