Patrick Waters

     After graduating from law school, Patrick relocated to Wisconsin and opened a private law firm, practicing from 2008 to 2013. In 2013, Patrick became a Public Defender in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, serving until 2016. During this time, Patrick was an active member of the Mental Health Court and achieved more than 20 felony-level dismissals and five successful suppression rulings, reflecting a strong commitment to protecting constitutional rights and advocating for clients with complex needs.

From 2016 to 2018, Patrick worked for the North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents as a Lead Attorney. In this role, Patrick provided leadership and supervision to attorneys and support staff while handling more than 1,000 criminal cases. This caseload included multiple homicide cases and more than six sexual assault cases, two of which resulted in not-guilty verdicts. Additional trial successes included not-guilty verdicts in terrorizing, assault, and drug possession cases.

     In 2018, Patrick became a Burleigh County Assistant State’s Attorney, serving in the Victims Unit. In this position Patrick was responsible for prosecuting victim-related offenses across a wide range of criminal matters, including violent crimes, drug violations, burglary, assault and battery, and smuggling. The role required extensive legal research and advanced analytical work to draft criminal complaints, informations, asset forfeiture petitions, pretrial pleadings, and complex procedural and evidentiary motions and briefs.

     While serving as Assistant State’s Attorney, Patrick prosecuted more than 150 felony cases with a 95% conviction rate and served as lead counsel in five jury trials and co-counsel in one jury trial. Patrick conducted over 100 preliminary hearings, five suppression hearings, three post-conviction hearings, and more than 300 bond hearings. Responsibilities also included reviewing and analyzing hundreds of discovery materials, interviewing and preparing victims, law enforcement officers, witnesses, and investigators for trial, and preparing and delivering sentencing arguments.

     In 2019, Patrick founded Heartland Law Office, focusing on criminal defense and family law, including custody, guardianship, and adoption matters. Through Heartland Law Office, Patrick has handled and overseen hundreds of criminal cases involving serious offenses such as homicide, DUI, terrorizing, and domestic violence, and also represents clients in federal criminal cases.

     Since 2023, Patrick has served as the Oliver County State’s Attorney. In this role, Patrick attends district court and conducts all prosecutions on behalf of the State, drafts indictments and informations, and defends all civil actions brought against the State or the County. Duties include prosecuting bond forfeitures; pursuing recovery of debts, fines, penalties, and forfeitures; and providing written legal opinions to county, district, township, and school district officials.

     As State’s Attorney, Patrick serves as legal advisor to the Board of County Commissioners, represents the County in civil matters, challenges unlawful or unjust claims against the County, and institutes actions to recover or restrain improper payments of public funds. Additional responsibilities include assisting the district court in child support and spousal support enforcement proceedings, initiating involuntary commitment proceedings, and representing and advising the Human Service Zone in legal matters, including employer actions, grievances, and appeals.

     With extensive experience as a defense attorney, prosecutor, and public servant, Patrick brings a comprehensive and balanced perspective to every case—grounded in decades of courtroom experience, leadership, and dedication to justice.