Dea Cortney first joined the firm in 2018 as a law clerk before being promoted to attorney upon bar passage in 2020.
Dea has a wide range of experience and works with her clients on an array of criminal defense matters including domestic assault, criminal sexual conduct, DUI, firearm rights restoration, expungements, and post-conviction matters. She has also drafted numerous legal documents including motions, memoranda, briefs, and petitions. Dea’s adaptability has proven invaluable and serves her criminal defense and personal injury clients well.
Dea has broad experience in several fields, including hospitality, health care, commercial and residential real estate, non-profit management, lobbying, legislative analysis, and philanthropy that lends a unique perspective to her life and work. Because she has worked in so many fields, she is able to see things from multiple angles and finds solutions others might miss. In November 2020, Dea was featured in the Attorney at Law Magazine (AALM).
Dea is committed to serving the community with pro bono legal services and offers help through the Volunteer Lawyers Network.
In her free time, Dea enjoys photography, reading, spending time with loved ones, and traveling. In fact, she studied abroad three times in law school – twice in London and once in Israel. Dea enjoys learning about different cultures and how they relate to law, and has taken courses in International Business Law, Comparative Criminal Law & Procedure, Comparative Religion, Conflict Resolution, Immigration Law, and Comparative Criminal Trial Practice. She has also taken independent study courses in Forensic Science and Forensic Psychology – just for fun!
In 2023, Dea left the firm and moved to the east coast to be closer to family. There, she became a prosecutor where she focused on sexual assault and aggravated domestic cases as well as juvenile delinquency and child protection cases, gaining valuable perspective and extensive trial experience she now brings back to Sieben Edmunds Miller and her criminal defense clients.
Bar Admissions
- State of Minnesota
- U.S. District of Minnesota
- State of Vermont
Education
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law, J.D.
- Metropolitan State University, M.P.N.A. Public and Nonprofit Administration
- Metropolitan State University, B.A. Social Philosophy
Recent Blog Posts
Arrested at a Protest in Minnesota? What You and Your Family Should Know
Over the past several days, Minneapolis and surrounding communities have seen large protests following the January 7 shooting death of a woman by an ICE agent. As crowds have grown and police presence has increased, some demonstrators have been arrested, sometimes in...
A Minnesota Criminal Defense Lawyers Perspective on the Recent ICE Shooting
Wanted in a Homicide Investigation By Kevin Sieben, Criminal Defense Attorney As a Minnesota criminal defense law firm, we work daily with the practical realities of how criminal laws are enforced and how law enforcement decisions affect real people and real cases....
Samuel Edmunds Named Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year for the Third Time
Sieben Edmunds Miller is proud to announce that Samuel Edmunds, partner at the firm, has been named one of the 2025 Attorneys of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer for Outstanding Services to the Profession. This marks the third time Sam has received this honor,...
What Happens If You Break A Restraining Order in Minnesota?
Facing Restraining Order Violation Charges in Minnesota? Here’s What to Know Restraining orders serve as crucial safeguards against potential harm or harassment. However, despite the serious consequences associated with violating such orders, individuals may find...
Can A Strangulation Charge Be Dropped?
How To Beat A Strangulation Charge in Minnesota Facing a strangulation charge can be a daunting and distressing experience. A conviction for strangulation has long-lasting impacts on both the defendant and their family members. If you’ve been accused of strangulation,...
DANCO: What you need to know and how to get the DANCO dropped
If you have been charged with a domestic abuse crime in Minnesota, you probably also have had a DANCO issued against you. You may have questions about what a DANCO is, what it means for your life and your family, and whether the order can be removed. If you are in...
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