Jon F. Erickson has been a successful trial attorney in some of Chicago's most challenging courtrooms for the past 22 years. As an author, litigator and advisor, Jon F. Erickson has developed an expertise in criminal defense and civil rights law and is considered a leader in DUI defense.
Jon F. Erickson has obtained not-guilty verdicts in countless felony criminal cases, including many high-profile cases. In November of 2010, Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd. obtained a not-guilty on first-degree murder for U.S.A. National Boxing Champion Semajay Thomas, and has since won a not guilty in "unheard-of" three-in-a-row first-degree murder jury trials. In a federal drug conspiracy trial in Western Michigan, Erickson represented a man whom United States Federal District Judge Gordon J. Quist called "... probably the biggest drug dealer in the United States of America."
Jon F. Erickson has appeared in over 107 federal civil rights cases in the in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and has won millions of dollars in damage awards for his civil rights clients. In a recent dramatic victory against the city of Chicago, a federal jury awarded a Chicago police officer $565,000 in damages after Chicago police unlawfully raided his private home. Mr. Erickson recently filed a wrongful conviction suit on behalf of one of the famed Dixmoor 5, who in 1992 was framed and sentenced to 20 years in prison for the brutal murder/rape of a young girl he didn't commit.
While attending law school at the John Marshal Law School, Mr. Erickson clerked for the elite Murder Task Force at the Cook County Public Defender's Office and began working as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender in November of 1990. During his twelve (12) years as an Assistant Public Defender, he developed extensive trial skills and experience in some of Chicago's most high-volume and challenging courtrooms. As an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Erickson served as lead or co-counsel in excess of five hundred (500) bench and jury trials.
In 2001, Mr. Erickson left the Public Defender's Office and started his own practice and in 2004, partnered with Michael D. Oppenheimer to form Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd. Mr. Erickson is admitted to both the General and Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois and has been admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan and the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Erickson served as a legislative aide to Illinois State Representative Larry McKeon, specializing in criminal and civil rights legislation, and in 2003 served on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Transition Team and advised Attorney General Madigan on civil rights and domestic violence issues. He has guest lectured on Illinois' Hate Crime laws at the annual Illinois Victim's Assistance Academy. In 2003, he was chosen to represent Chicago at the Simon Wiesenthal National Institute Against Hate Crimes and Terrorism, Los Angeles (U.S. Department of Justice). From 2003-2009, Mr. Erickson served on an advisory committee on civil rights issues to then Congressman Rahm Emanuel, and from 2009 to the present, has served Congressman Mike Quigley in the same capacity.
