Jack Bjørnstad Law

Criminal Defense. Civil Rights. Constitutional Law.

Criminal Defense.
Civil Rights.
Constitutional Law.

If you have been charged with a crime, or you have had your constitutional rights violated,

Jack and his team want to hear from you.

Call the Office

712.332.5225

Send Jack an email

via our contact form
Practice Areas

Jack will fight for you

Civil Rights

Abuse of power is wrong. Some of the most egregious abuses are when law enforcement acts unlawfully under the authority of their office. Fortunately, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights guarantee all persons in this country protection from government misconduct.

The right to be free from excessive force, the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizure, and the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment are fundamental rights protected by law. Jack fights to protect these rights in court.

Jack represents victims of police brutality, wrongful arrest, wrongful confinement, suppression of free speech and the victims of taserings and police shootings.

Criminal Defense

If you have been arrested, contacted by law enforcement, or are facing criminal charges, your freedom and future are on the line. Do not take unnecessary risks. Before doing anything else, hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. Jack has the experience, knowledge and skill to fight for you.

Jack’s trial record is extraordinary. Whether the charge is Murder, White Collar Crime, Theft, Assault, Sexual Assault, Disorderly Conduct, Interference with Official Acts, OWI, DUI, or any other crime, Jack can help.

Contact Jack Bjornstad Law Office at 712.332.5225 today. Jack understands the potentially severe consequences you may face when you are charged with a crime. Jack will fight for you.

Jack’s Story

I know first hand that our right to a criminal defense and the defense of our constitutional rights are fundamental.  

I have been wrongfully arrested, while actively representing a client. A Deputy threatened to arrest me if I didn’t turn my client over to him immediately. I told him he was wrong on the law, and I was going to protect my client. 

He drove to my home, scared my family, and searched my office. The next day he wrongfully arrested and jailed me. I got the bogus charges dismissed. Then I went after the Deputy and other wrongdoers with a civil lawsuit, and made sure justice was done.

My freedom, career, and family were put on the line. But I would do it all over again to help my clients. I am absolutely passionate about every person’s right to a criminal defense and the defense of their constitutional and civil rights. 

I’ve harnessed that passion and that experience into changing the law here in Iowa, through the Iowa Supreme Court, to help people who have had the power of the State wrongfully turned upon them.

 

The Iowa Supreme Court now not only recognizes wrongful arrest lawsuits under the Iowa Constitution, but holds government wrongdoers to a unique “all due care to comply with the law” standard. I’ve used that “all due care” standard to help people all over Iowa and the midwest protect their constitutional rights.
Contact Jack Bjornstad Law Office at 712.332.5225 today. Jack understands the potentially severe consequences you may face when you are charged with a crime. Jack will fight for you.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Here are just a few examples of the cases Jack has handled:

Conditions of Confinement – Constitutional Rights Lawsuits

Conditions of Confinement – Constitutional Rights Lawsuits
L*** *** v. O***, et al.
Law No. 17-CV-***

A teenager, and another client were held in barbaric solitary confinement conditions for over 23 hours per day. For months at a time. We sued the State agencies and officials who were responsible. We recovered four million dollars for them.

Appeals and Retrials – Child Endangerment Conviction Reversed

Appeals and Retrials – Conviction Reversed
State of Iowa v. J*** ***
No. 14-****

J*** went to trial on a Class C Felony Child Endangerment with another lawyer and lost. He was stuck in prison for ten years. We took over for appeal and had the conviction reversed. Utilizing expert testimony, J*** never went back to jail.

Attempted Murder – Jury Acquittal

Attempted Murder – Jury Acquittal
State of Iowa v. ***, K***
FECR002***

K*** was charged with Attempted Murder, a Class B felony, among a string of other charges. He faced more than 25 years in prison. K*** refused all offers. He received a Jury Acquittal, and served no jail or prison time.

Sexual Abuse – Jury Acquittal

Sexual Abuse – Jury Acquittal
State of Iowa v. ***, R***
FECR008***

R***was charged with both Class B felony Sexual Abuse and Class C felony Sexual Abuse. The plea offer was go to prison on the B felony, a 25 year sentence. The case was tried to a jury. R*** received a Jury Acquittal on all charges.

Arson – Charges Dismissed

Arson – Charges Dismissed
State of Iowa v. ***, K***
FECR019***

K*** was charged with Class C felony Arson 2nd Degree. We quickly arranged an expert to review the scene. Based on our legal research and the expert’s opinion, we convinced the State that there was not support for the charge under the law. All charges were dismissed.

Wrongful Arrest – Lawsuit

Wrongful Arrest
H*** *** v. County of C***, et al.
CVCV06***

H*** was charged with Theft in the First Degree over a simple business misunderstanding. She was taken from her children, and held in jail for 12 long days. The charges were dismissed and we helped H*** obtain justice for her wrongful arrest. “We held them accountable,” H*** said of her settlement before trial for over a quarter million dollars.

Sexual Abuse – Jury Acquittal

Teacher/Student Charges – Jury Acquittal
State of Iowa v. ***, J******
FECR009***

J*** was charged with Class C felony Sexual Abuse. The State offered a five year prison sentence and placement on the sex offender registry. After our extensive investigation, the State offered a Simple Misdemeanor Telephone Harrassment with a $65 fine. As a matter of principle, J*** refused the State’s offer. He risked a 10 year prison sentence if he lost. J*** received a Jury Acquittal on all charges.

Felony Charges – Charges Not Brought

Felony Charges – Charges Avoided
State of Iowa v. ***, E***
FECR00****

Before E*** was even charged with a Class C felony, we negotiated with the State and the Sheriff’s office. We shared key pieces of our early investigation which would have been presented at trial. The State agreed to put the charges on hold. E*** was never charged with any criminal offense.

Public Service Award

Public Service Award
Iowa Association for Justice
For exceptional advocacy seeking civil justice for the criminally accused

Citing “his passion for the rights of those who stand accused,” Jack was awarded the Public Service Award for a string of cases which reformed jail and probation practices, protected clients’ due process rights, and changed Iowa’s standard in constitutional tort cases.

Wrongful Seizure – Lawsuit

Wrongful Search and Seizure 
*** *** v. City of ***, et al.
CVCV02***

*** did nothing wrong. But he was harassed, belittled, and detained by an officer for hours. Holding the officer accountable, *** obtained just under half a million dollars to help make it right.

Domestic Assault

Domestic Assault – Jury Vote for Acquittal 11-1
State of Iowa v. ***, C***
FECR007***

C*** was charged with Class D felony Domestic Assault. The plea offer was a five year prison sentence. C*** chose trial. At the end of trial, the jury voted 11- 1 for a Jury Acquittal. The State took a plea to a small misdemeanor with no jail time to avoid retrial.

Speaker/Presenter

Speaker/Presenter 
Lawyer’s Chautauqua Seminar
Criminal Defense – Using the State Bill of Rights to Help Clients

Jack has presented on the topic of Criminal Defense. Specifically on using the State Bill of Rights as a more powerful alternative than the Federal Constitution in all aspects of criminal defense, including motion practice, jury selection, and trial.

Stalking – Jury Acquittal

Stalking – Jury Acquittal
State of Iowa v. ***, C***
FECR007***

C*** was charged with Class D felony Stalking. The plea offer was to plead as charged to a five year prison sentence. The case was tried to a jury. At trial, we used the State’s expert witness’ testimony against them. C*** received a Jury Acquittal on all charges.

Drug Charges – Charges Dismissed

Drug Crimes – Charges Dismissed
State of Iowa v. ***, C***
FECR007***

C*** was charged with Class C felony Delivery of Controlled Substances. The plea offer was for C*** to plead guilty and receive a ten year prison sentence. Before trial, we filed a Motion to Dismiss. The Court granted our motion and dismissed all charges.

Burglary – Charges Dismissed

Burglary – Charges Dismissed
State of Iowa v. ***, K***
FECR008***

K*** was charged with two counts of Class D felony Burglary. After extensive research we filed a Motion to Dismiss based on continuing criminal activity. All charges were dismissed.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment – Lawsuit

Cruel and Unusual Punishment
P*** *** v. State of ***
CVCV0***

P*** was placed in a facility with such poor conditions that we sued for cruel and unusual punishment. P*** and another client settled together before trial for nearly three quarters of a million dollars.

Murder – Charges Dismissed

Murder – Charges Dismissed 
State of Iowa v. ***, C***
FECR0***

C*** was charged with Class A felony Murder 1st Degree and Class B felony Robbery. He faced life in prison. Early investigation and research on the rationale behind the felony murder rule paid off. The prosecutor admitted to the newspaper that “all of our evidence against him just kind of blew up.” C***’s Murder charges and Robbery charges were dismissed.

Speaker

Speaker/Presenter – Constitutional Tort Claims
Claimant’s & Plaintiffs Trial Lawyer’s Conference
Iowa’s New Civil Rights Claims

Jack presented on the topic of Iowa’s New Civil Rights Claims at the Claimant’s and Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyers Conference. Subjects included wrongful arrest, due process, free speech, and other constitutional tort claims.

Affiliations