Thomas F. Murtha IV

Decades of Trial Experience. Perspective From Every Side of the Courtroom.

Attorney Thomas Murtha IV is a fourth-generation attorney who has spent nearly three decades fighting for his clients’ rights in Minnesota and North Dakota courtrooms. His career has placed him on both sides of the criminal justice system—as a criminal defense attorney, assistant state public defender, and elected county attorney. That uncommon breadth of experience gives him a powerful understanding of how cases are investigated, prosecuted, defended, and ultimately decided.

Murtha Law Office was established in Dickinson, North Dakota, in 1908. Thomas is the fourth Thomas F. Murtha to practice law in Dickinson, continuing a family tradition of representing clients in southwest North Dakota and beyond for more than 100 years.

Licensed to practice in both Minnesota and North Dakota, Thomas has led Murtha Law Office since 2007. He represents clients with the steady judgment of a seasoned trial lawyer and the personal commitment of an attorney who understands exactly what is at stake. When a person’s freedom, reputation, family, or future is on the line, he believes their defense deserves careful preparation, honest counsel, and an attorney who is ready to stand beside them in court.

Prior to moving home to North Dakota, Thomas served as the elected Aitkin County Attorney from 2003 to 2007. In that role, he prosecuted the county’s most serious felony cases, including homicide, criminal sexual conduct, and controlled-substance offenses. He also advised county departments and boards on civil and criminal matters and provided training to law enforcement personnel.

His leadership extended beyond the courtroom. As County Attorney, Thomas helped initiate a Sobriety Court Program and completed the Adult Drug Court Planning Initiative through the National Drug Court Institute. He also integrated a Crime Victim Coordinator and Juvenile Diversion Program into the County Attorney’s Office, strengthening both victim services and alternatives for young people entering the justice system. During his tenure, he successfully prosecuted a record-setting number of methamphetamine laboratory cases in Aitkin County.

Thomas also served as an Assistant State Public Defender for Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District. His practice centered on felony trial work and included juvenile and child-protection matters. Despite managing a demanding caseload, he successfully represented clients in numerous felony jury trials—experience that sharpened his ability to evaluate evidence, identify weaknesses in the government’s case, and advocate effectively under pressure.

Earlier in his career, Thomas practiced criminal defense with Larson Law Office, where he gained substantial jury-trial experience representing individuals accused of crimes.

In 2011, Thomas moved with his wife, Jan, also an attorney, back home to North Dakota and joined his father in the practice of law at Murtha Law Office. Today, Thomas brings the full weight of his decades of experience and commitment to serving the people of southwest North Dakota. He understands how prosecutors think because he has been one. He understands the pressures defendants face because he has spent decades defending them. Most importantly, he knows that every case belongs to a real person whose life can be profoundly affected by what happens next.

For clients facing serious legal challenges, Thomas Murtha offers experienced counsel, strategic advocacy, and a defense grounded in preparation, perspective, and resolve.