Jasmine J. Johnson

Adjunct Professor

Staff Attorney, Federal Defender Program

Jasmine J. Johnson is a staff attorney with the Federal Defender Program for the Northern District of Illinois, where she represents clients in complex federal criminal matters, including extradition, cybercrime, financial offenses, and grand jury investigations. She brings over a decade of courtroom experience to her practice, with prior roles as a research and writing specialist in the Western District of Louisiana, an assistant public defender in Caddo Parish, and a judicial staff attorney at the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal.

She is admitted to practice in Illinois and Louisiana, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Seventh Circuits. She was named one of the Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers (2025) and previously recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 in Criminal Defense (2023).

In addition to her legal practice, Jasmine teaches in Loyola’s 1L curriculum and at DePaul University College of Law, where she focuses on Professional Identity Formation, ethical lawyering, and public interest practice. She has co-developed course syllabi, mentored adjunct faculty, and guided students in building judgment, reflection, and client-centered legal skills.

She is also a financial education advocate, a volunteer speaker with CARE Chicago, and a pro bono attorney with Administer Justice. Her work emphasizes holistic professional development, access to justice, and preparing students for thoughtful, purpose-driven careers.

Jasmine holds a B.A. in English (magna cum laude) from Claflin University, an M.P.A. from Southern University, and a J.D. from Southern University Law Center, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Race, Gender & Poverty and a Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Fellow.

Education

BA, magna cum laude, Claflin University, 2005
MPA, Southern University, 2011
JD, Southern University Law Center, 2012

Professional/Community Affiliations

Staff Attorney, Federal Defender Program

Courses Taught

Professional Identity Formation