Meet Jon Stromsta

Jon Stromsta is a highly experienced litigator , arbitrator and Administrative Law Judge with nearly forty years of practice across civil, criminal, and administrative law. His steady temperament, meticulous legal reasoning, and deep respect for the rule of law have defined a career that spans trial work, appellate advocacy, arbitration, and judicial decision-making. Jon’s background includes handling complex commercial, employment, benefits, tort, and intellectual-property matters, as well as criminal defense, family law and domestic-violence cases. He has practiced in state and federal courts at every level, including the United States Supreme Court, reflecting both the breadth and depth of his legal career.

A committed progressive with a long record of public-interest work, Jon spent years representing people facing the harshest possible penalties in Illinois—serving in the Capital Litigation Division of the Office of the State Appellate Defender and providing pro bono representation to death-sentenced clients before the state ultimately abolished the death penalty. He also spent several years facilitating expungement summits with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Cabrini Green Legal Aid, where eligible Chicagoans could have their records thoughtfully reviewed and, when appropriate, cleared—supporting fairness, accountability, and meaningful pathways to rebuild their lives. His work on behalf of our community’s most vulnerable reflects a deeply held belief in fairness, constitutional protections, and the importance of a justice system that lives up to its promises. Jon’s experience as a teacher of legal writing and appellate advocacy, a courtroom facilitator, and a leader in professional associations demonstrates his ongoing commitment to strengthening the legal profession and supporting access to justice throughout Cook County.

Jon is also a proud, longtime resident of the 47th Ward and a dedicated member of the 47th Ward Democrats. He lives in Ravenswood and draws personal inspiration from the giants of the civil-rights era. Outside the courtroom, Jon is an avid music lover—especially late-60s to mid-70s classics like Tommy by The Who, Disraeli Gears by Cream, and Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan—and he recharges through outdoor exploration, taking long hikes or cycling trips whenever possible.