Jonathan Jeffress
Partner

jjeffress@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-4430

"He is fantastic at trial, with real courtroom presence."– Chambers USA, 2024

Jonathan Jeffress is a “name to note with regular success in criminal trials.” – The Legal 500

Jonathan S. Jeffress served the District of Columbia as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for 14 years, regularly taking on – and defeating – the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in court. Since entering private practice at Kaiser, Jon has represented clients in all phases of federal criminal cases, including through numerous successfully litigated trials and appeals.  Jon has led the representation of clients in multiple high-profile matters such as the Special Counsel Office’s Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election and spin-off investigations. Jon specializes in representing clients under investigation for alleged false statements, bribery, and campaign finance violations.

Jon has successfully argued appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the Supreme Court of Virginia. He lectures regularly on law enforcement sting operations to Federal Defender Offices across the country and members of the Criminal Justice Act Panels. He is a member of the boards of directions of several community non-profits, including those committed to criminal justice reform and affordable housing in the District of Columbia. Jon previously served as a Screening Committee Member for President Barack Obama’s Clemency Project 2014, where he was responsible for reviewing and making recommendations for executive clemency in the wake of significant changes in federal sentencing law.

Prior to joining the Federal Public Defender’s office, Jon was an associate at Williams & Connolly. Jon is a member of the Edward Bennett Williams American Inn of Court, an invitation-only professional organization devoted to white-collar criminal practice.

 

Education
  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
  • B.A., Williams College (cum laude)
Government Service
  • Clerkship, United States District Court Judge, Thomas F. Hogan
  • Assistant Federal Public Defender, District of Columbia

Jonathan Jeffress
Partner

jjeffress@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-4430

Law 360 – “Handling Corporate Congressional Probes In The Trump Era” co-authored by Bill Pittard

Law360 – “The Latest On Sexual Harassment Reform On The Hill” by Bill Pittard

Matt Kaiser Publishes Op-Ed for The Washington Post: Lawyers: DeVos is bringing due process to campus sexual assault cases

Law 360 – “When Russia Investigations Collide” by Bill Pittard

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Op-Ed in Los Angeles Times: Absurdity Reigns in Campus Sexual Assault Trials.

Matt Kaiser Guest Blogs on Washington Legal Foundation The Legal Pulse: Overcriminalization Timeline: Mens Rea, Public Welfare Offenses and Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Editorial in the Los Angeles Times: How to Punish Campus Sexual Assault

Matt Kaiser Publishes an Editorial in The Washington Times: Being an Executive is not a Crime

Matt Kaiser Publishes Editorial in LA Times: Why It’s Unfair for Colleges to Use Outside Investigators in Rape Cases.

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Op-Ed in the National Law Journal: The DOJ’s Crackdown on White-Collar Crime Creates ‘Cruel Alternative’

Matt Kaiser Publishes Op-ed in The Weekly Standard: The Campus Sex Scene: How Congress Can Make It Worse

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Op-ed in The Washington Post: We’ve defended lots of campus sexual assault cases, so we know just how unfair they are

Matt Kaiser Publishes Editorial in Baltimore Sun: A Minimum of Reform

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Op-Ed in San Diego Union-Tribune: California Bill Won’t Solve Sexual Assault Problem on Campus

Matt Kaiser Publishes Op-Ed in Boston Herald: College Courts Flunks Fairness Test

Matt Kaiser Publishes an Article for Time Magazine: Some Rules about Consent are “Unfair” to Male Students”

Matt Kaiser Publishes an Editorial in the Wall Street Journal: The White House Flunks a Test on Sexual Assault

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Opinion for The Wall Street Journal: The White House Flunks a Test on Sexual Assault

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors a Letter to the Editor in the New York Times: The Rights of the Accused

Jonathan Jeffress
Partner

jjeffress@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-4430

Jonathan Jeffress
Partner

jjeffress@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-4430

Federal agents came to my door. What should I do? — Jonathan Jeffress

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A Prosecutor wants me to plead guilty to a felony. Do I have other options? — Jonathan Jeffress

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What should I do if federal agents have executed a search warrant for my home or business? — Jonathan Jeffress

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A loved one has been arrested on federal charges. What will happen next? — Jonathan Jeffress

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What should I do if I received a letter stating that I’m a target of a criminal investigation? — Jonathan Jeffress

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Jonathan Jeffress
Partner

jjeffress@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-4430

Jonathan Jeffress
Partner

jjeffress@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-4430