Disbarment petition resubmitted for lawyer who killed ex-wife

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The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility is seeking the disbarment of an attorney who was convicted of murdering his ex-wife in front of his minor children. On Feb. 29, Director Susan Humiston petitioned the Minnesota Supreme Court to disbar Anders Odegaard.

Odegaard was admitted to practice in North Dakota in 2017 and Minnesota in 2018. At one time, Odegaard was a prosecutor in North Dakota, but he was terminated. Things also began to unravel for him personally. His wife, Carissa, sought a divorce, which was finalized in 2021. Odegaard also owed over six figures in student loans.

On Aug. 23, 2022, things took a tragic turn. The children, who ranged in ages from 3 to 9, claimed that Odegaard beat their mother, who would never recover. She had no significant brain function, and her family made the decision to take her off of life support.

On Dec. 22, 2023, Odegaard pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree without intent while committing a felony. He was sentenced to 220 months in prison for the murder of his ex-wife.

The OLPR had filed a disbarment petition against Odegaard last year but withdrew it when a judge rejected a plea agreement in his murder trial. The office has refiled the petition now that the final plea was accepted and Odegaard has been sentenced.

Odegaard has 20 days to answer the disbarment petition.