Jorie K. Johnson

As founder of the Law Office of Jorie K. Johnson, Ms. Johnson is dedicated to serving clients in multiple counties within Illinois, including but not limited to Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, Kendall, Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, Grundy, LaSalle and Will from her offices in Aurora, Lisle, and Chicago. She focuses her practice on restorative justice (i.e., criminal records law), post-conviction relief and general criminal defense.  With regards to petitions to expunge, seal and for executive clemency, Ms. Johnson represents clients throughout the entire State of Illinois.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Johnson has represented clients in cases involving the following: pending criminal charges ranging from petty traffic offenses to misdemeanors to felonies, both violent and non-violent; expungement, sealing, pardons (including commutations of sentence petitions), and certificates of disability and good conduct, as well as motions to vacate and petitions for relief from judgment.  She has been quite successful in obtaining executive clemency with authorization to expunge (some including restoration of firearm ownership privileges) cases from present and past Illinois governors. Ms. Johnson also handles active criminal cases of all levels, including murder, sex offenses, possession of controlled substances and cannabis, theft and/or retail theft, assault, battery, domestic violence and more.  Finally, Ms. Johnson assists individuals obtaining and reinstating both their FOID cards and concealed carry permits within Illinois.

Ms. Johnson graduated from the elite Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire in 1992. While working full time as a paralegal/contracts manager, Ms. Johnson graduated from Northwestern University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science majoring in psychology, and minoring in Business.  She then went on to earn a Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School in 2008.

Ms. Johnson understands that, when they are facing criminal charges, her clients' futures are on the line. As such, she empathetically and analytically listens to her clients and helps them build a strong criminal defense. From the start of each case until its resolution, Ms. Johnson stands by her clients and strives to ensure their rights are upheld. In the case of her post-conviction clients, Ms. Johnson understands that people do make mistakes throughout their lives and she firmly believes that none of us should be judged solely on a moment or two of bad judgment.

A former volunteer with Cabrini Green Legal Aid and First Defense Legal Aid, where she provided pro bono representation to clients for multiple years, Ms. Johnson stays active in the legal community. She is a member of numerous professional associations, including the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association and the Women's Criminal Defense Bar Association.  Ms. Johnson continues to provide pro bono representation when and where possible.