Russell J. A. Jones
Attorney
414.274.0080 bus.
414.238.7520 cell.
russ@cleghornjones.com
I am a trial lawyer. I love trials. A jury trial is when the legal system is at its best. The Constitution grants every citizen the right to trial by jury, and that is a right we all should exercise when necessary. I have been lead counsel on hundreds of jury trials, both at the State and Federal level.
However, at times, negotiating a settlement is the right course of action. My reputation for zealous representation results in the best-negotiated results. I have the respect of the opposition and the trust of the judges.
I have tried and won cases ranging from first-degree intentional homicide to disorderly conduct. I have successfully argued to protect constitutional rights and have engineered favorable results for clients in all aspects of litigation. In short, I am the lawyer you want when you need to fight for your freedom, your family, or your rights.
I am a four-time winner of the Martin Hanson Memorial Prize, awarded by the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 2023 Jones Law Firm was named best solo practice law firm in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Law Journal. In 2021 I was named a Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association. I was named a Leader in the Law in 2020 by the Wisconsin Law Journal; along with being named as a Rising Star in 2010 by Super Lawyers. My firm was named The Best of Milwaukee in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 by The Shepard Express.
I graduated with honors from Marquette University Law School in 2002 and I founded Jones Law Firm in 2008. I am licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, the Eastern and Western Districts for the Federal Court of Wisconsin, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kerri Cleghorn
Attorney
414.567.2288
kerri@cleghornjones.com
Since 2003, Kerri Cleghorn has stood up for the rights of people accused of serious criminal charges or facing family issues. She fights tirelessly to protect her clients’ freedom. Serving clients throughout Wisconsin, she has earned a reputation as a fearless, assertive defense and family law attorney who will do everything in her power to secure a favorable outcome.
Kerri is ready to take on the cases that other attorneys won’t touch. She has won jury trials for cases on which others turned their backs. When you need a champion on your side, she is ready.
Though she is a fierce advocate in the courtroom or pretrial negotiations, she always treats her clients with compassion. You can expect a caring ear as well as an ally who cares about doing what is best for you and your family.
Education
Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Juris Doctor – 2003
Grand Valley State University
B.A. – 2000
Major: Criminal Justice
Bar Admissions
Wisconsin, 2003
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2004
Abigail Ruckdashel
Attorney
414.274.0080 bus.
414.662.7006 cell.
abigail@cleghornjones.com
Abigail is a graduate of Marquette University Law School. During her time at Marquette,
she interned for the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. She has learned how
to zealously advocate for her client’s and is anxious to apply those lessons to the
courtroom. She specializes in criminal defense work which covers a wide array of
misdemeanors and felonies charges.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Abigail graduated from the University of Wisconsin-
Madison with a BA in Journalism in 2017. She has lived many lifetimes, gaining real-
world experience that allows her to understand the realities faced by her clients. Her
profession has ranged from working for the Big 10 Network as a wrestling reporter to
being special education middle-school teacher.
Outside the courtroom Abigail enjoys spending time with her husband, Jake, and their
three-year-old beagle, Ace! She is an avid Brewers fan and enjoys exploring new places
to eat.
Laura T. Jones
Firm Administrator
414.793.4243
laura@cleghornjones.com
I have been a paralegal since 2009. This profession has so much to offer. There is so much to learn and every day is different, as is every case. Sure, there are many mundane tasks, but there is so much diversity that boredom is difficult to come by. Variety is the spice of life, so they say – and in my job that could not be more true.
I often tell people that my job is very much akin to the nurse/doctor relationship. Don’t be mistaken in thinking paralegals are merely assistants to attorneys. They truly are the hands and feet of a law firm, always making sure what needs to get done gets done.
On most days, I am doing the “real” paralegal work that needs to be done: pushing paper, organizing files, speaking with clients, potential clients, attorneys and court staff, creating pleadings, demand letters and discovery, all while attempting to navigate a minefield of deadlines and managing to keep everyone organized and sane. It’s a tall order, not always associated with a lot of “glory”. Yet, these tasks remain of the utmost importance. Cases are won, in large part, by what we, as paralegals, do each day. We do the work. We are in the trenches. We lay the foundation that great cases are built upon.
I was named an Unsung Hero in the Wisconsin legal community in 2020 by the Wisconsin Law Journal. This award recognizes exceptional legal staff for their accomplishments and upstanding work in their professions.
I received my bachelor’s degree in political science from UW Milwaukee in 2013; and my post-baccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies from Duke University in 2014.
Tom Johnson
Paralegal
414.274.0080
tom@cleghornjones.com
Tom Johnson is a native of Milwaukee and a graduate of the University of Arizona. He worked
for many years as a writer and editor in Milwaukee and in the Washington, D.C. area. He then
returned to school, enrolling in MATC’s post-baccalaureate program in paralegal studies. He has
worked on criminal-defense cases for Attorney Cleghorn since January 2020.
Carol L. Weymier
Legal Assistant
920.948.0580
carol@cleghornjones.com
I started as a legal assistant in October 2021 after retiring from the Washington County Department of Corrections after 20 years of employment with them.
When I was with the Department of Corrections, I provided support to Agents and other team members. I have been involved in administration of the criminal justice system for almost two decades, helping people through the process of being on State supervision. I am proud to be part of the team at Jones Law Firm, bringing with my years of experience on how the wheels of justice actually turn.
I was named an Unsung Hero in the Wisconsin legal community in 2023 by the Wisconsin Law Journal. This award recognizes exceptional legal staff for their accomplishments and upstanding work in their professions.
My role is to support the needs of the attorney and paralegal while interacting with law enforcement agencies on behalf of our clients. This role allows to support and guide individuals through the maze of the criminal justice system; while employing understanding and empathy throughout the process.
