Bismarck City Attorney's Office Named State’s DUI Prosecutor of the Year

Julie Mees and Stephanie Pretzer of the City of Bismarck Attorney Office were honored as North Dakota's 2024 prosecutors of the year by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The award honors dedication to working in the areas of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), education, prevention, or innovation to reduce drunk and impaired driving.

In their nomination, MADD indicated:

"Julie and Stephanie have been strong supporters of working a DUI case all the way through Jury Trials in Bismarck, ND. They have not backed down from a challenge, even when the odds have been stacked against them. Both Julie and Stephanie are known by defense attorneys as being very hard to get DUI cases an easy plea deal since they know the consequences of drinking and driving. I am happy to say Julie and Stephanie do not take the easy road and are ready for a fight in these cases! If we win or lose at trial, both Julie and Stephanie are there to figure out how we can bring an even stronger case the next time, or how we can change our process during the DUI investigation to eliminate a claim by the defense. At the end of the day, Julie and Stephanie are supporters of DUI laws and are advocates for DUI enforcement."

"DUI enforcement is something all our staff take seriously," said Bismarck City Attorney Jannelle Combs. "This award reflects the excellence of our City's legal staff that keep our community safe, and the dedication required to not compromise on what is required to achieve that safety. There is never a good excuse when it comes to driving under the influence."

MADD's award honors law enforcement, prosecutors and entities that embrace MADD's mission to end drunk driving and help fight drugged driving.