Disbarment petition withdrawn for former prosecutor accused of killing wife

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The State of Minnesota’s petition to disbar an attorney who is charged with killing his former wife has been withdrawn by the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.

After a judge rejected Anders Odegaard’s plea agreement, the disciplinary petition was dismissed. However, a future petition for discipline could be filed against Odegaard.

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility was previously seeking the disbarment of Anders Odegaard, a former prosecutor who is alleged to have murdered his ex-wife in front of his minor children last year.

On Aug. 17, OLPR Director Susan Humiston withdrew the petition for disciplinary action, citing the fact that the guilty plea that was the basis of the discipline petition was rejected. The file was administratively closed Aug 18.

Judge Corey Harbott originally accepted Odegaard’s Alford plea. However, Harbott withdrew acceptance of the plea upon learning that the family of Odegaard’s ex-wife was not made aware of the plea.

Odegaard is currently at the Pennington County Jail in Minnesota.

Laura Brown contributed to this report.