Tanya M. Bishop

Tanya M. Bishop is an Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a practicing Assistant Public Defender in Hennepin County, Minnesota. With over two decades of experience in criminal defense and civil rights, she brings real-world legal expertise into the classroom. She is licensed to practice law in both Minnesota and Florida at the state and federal levels.

Her educational background includes a law degree from Hamline University School of Law, which she earned in 2003. During her time there, she excelled on the trial team and was published in the Hamline Law Journal of Public Law and Policy.

Ms. Bishop's research and teaching interests center on criminal law and constitutional law, with a strong emphasis on civil liberties, statutory interpretation, and professional ethics. Her practical experience enriches her instruction in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law: Liberties and Powers, and Professional Responsibility.

While no peer-reviewed articles are listed, her professional work reflects deep engagement with criminal justice reform, appellate advocacy, and constitutional protections in law enforcement contexts.

• Gotcha Award (2021) - Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Ms. Bishop has served as legal counsel in high-stakes criminal defense cases and has been recognized by the Star Tribune for her advocacy. She has also contributed to legal education through teaching roles at St. Cloud State University and Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Though no formal advisees are listed, her mentorship extends through clinical training and public defense supervision.

She was a founding member of the Innocence Project of Minnesota and has volunteered with related chapters throughout her career, demonstrating a sustained commitment to justice reform and wrongful conviction prevention.