Jonathan S. Bedi
Bedi & Singer
▶Criminal defense
40 Under Class – 2018

Jonathan Bedi might be young, but he has won hundreds of bench and jury trials in criminal court, including first-degree murder trials that would be the envy of lawyers far more seasoned.

Colleagues and judges are quick to say Bedi, a criminal defense lawyer with Chicago’s Bedi & Singer, is the real deal.

Before opening his own firm, Bedi worked in the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. For nine years, he worked his way from defending traffic offenses to first-degree murder charges.

One Cook County judge who nominated Bedi for Forty Under 40 was a new judge in Traffic Court at the same time Bedi was a green assistant public defender assigned to the same courtroom. “From the outset, Jonathan impressed me with not only his substantive command of the law, but with consistent good exercise of judgment,” the nominating judge wrote.

One Forty Under 40 nominator who worked with Bedi in the public defender’s office credited Bedi’s poise for tough defense work: “Jonathan is fearless, which turns out to be a great strength when representing clients accused of heinous crimes; in such circumstances, defense attorneys who care about being well-liked by judges and prosecutors do not always serve their clients well. I have seen Jonathan stand up to judges who are so furious they are screaming in his face. Jonathan always remains steadfast in such situations, calmly but resolutely sticking to the argument or position necessary to best defend his client.”

The same nominator continued, “This is the hallmark of Jonathan’s practice of law — fearless advocacy that gets results and has earned him great respect from his peers, judges, and opposing counsel alike. in this way he is a terrific asset to the bar; he inspires everyone with whom he works to try harder and work to be better at what they do.”

Another Forty Under 40 nominator who has watched Bedi in action over several years wrote that “If I were charged with a crime, Jonathan is who I would call. No one else comes even close.”

Bedi is active in the bar and community in a number of ways. He serves as a mentor to law students and is a member of a Chicago Inn of Court. He also served on the board of directors for the Roseland Chapter of CeaseFire. In addition, he is a frequent speaker at various bar and school events, including the University of Chicago School of Law and Notre Dame Law School.