Trent Barkus is a proud Veteran who grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota. He attended the University of North Dakota for law school. Trent attended the Jamestown College for his undergraduate degree and Troy University for his graduate degree. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science with a minor in Economics in 2008. In 2010, Trent enlisted in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist and while serving received a Master of Science in International Relations in 2015. He left active duty and joined the reserves where he was appointed a Naval Officer in 2017. During law school Trent worked as a law clerk dedicating his time to criminal cases. Additionally, he interned over the summer of 2017 as a Judicial Law Clerk in Becker County, Minnesota. Trent has first hand experience in handling various criminal cases.

Trent resides in West Fargo with his family.

He was admitted to practice in North Dakota in state and federal court in 2019.