Justin grew up south of Bismarck on his family’s ranch in rural Emmons County. He graduated from Century High School in Bismarck and Bismarck State College.  After earning his associate degrees at Bismarck State College, he enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard where he proudly served through 2007.  Justin completed his undergraduate education at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Justin graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2006 and achieved his life-long dream of working with his father, Ralph Vinje   Ralph passed away suddenly in 2009 following an automobile accident, and Justin took over his father’s law firm.  Justin remains eternally grateful for his father’s teachings and the time he was able to work with him before his passing.

 Since becoming a lawyer, Justin has represented thousands of people in criminal cases in state and federal courts, including DUI cases, drug crimes, juvenile matters, property crimes, and many others.  He has also helped many people who have been injured or lost family members in automobile or motorcycle accidents.  He is a longtime member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists and Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (“AIM”), organizations that advance motorcyclists’ rights and provide legal services to people injured in motorcycle accidents. 

In addition to his criminal law and personal injury practice, Justin helps local small businesses and civil service unions.  He frequently speaks and teaches on the law at area schools, nonprofit organizations, attorney committees, legal seminars, and law enforcement agencies.  Justin has testified before North Dakota’s Legislature several times on bills relating to criminal laws in North Dakota.

Early in Justin’s legal career, he provided legal representation to indigent defendants, enabling him to represent a diverse group of people facing prosecution for many different offenses.  This experience was invaluable, offering hard lessons about the challenges faced by less-advantaged people in our justice system.  Seeing many of his clients overcome their legal obstacles and succeed in life gave him a true appreciation of how people’s legal problems do not define them.  Justin was later appointed to serve on North Dakota’s Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the board overseeing the work of public defenders in the state.  He served on the Commission for eight years, six of those as its chairperson.

Justin is a member of the North Dakota Association for Justice and the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  The president of the North Dakota State Bar Association has twice appointed Justin to serve on Inquiry Committee West, a group of attorneys and lay people who consider complaints made against attorneys in the western half of the state.



In his personal life, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, coaching and watching his kids’ sporting events, telling dad jokes, trying to play hockey, and volunteering in his community.