Jessica Arbour
Associate Attorney
Jessica Arbour joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in 2009, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from working as a paralegal on more than 1000 clergy sexual abuse cases nationwide.
She has extensive experience in sexual abuse cases involving the worldwide Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. By way of example, Jessica has an intimate working knowledge of the following Catholic institutions:
- Archdiocese of Chicago
- Archdiocese of Denver
- Archdiocese of Miami
- Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
- Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
- Diocese of Brooklyn
- Diocese of Charleston
- Diocese of Cleveland
- Diocese of Davenport
- Diocese of Fresno
- Diocese of Manchester
- Diocese of New Ulm
- Diocese of Oakland
- Diocese of Rockford
- Diocese of Sacramento
- Diocese of Santa Rosa
- Diocese of Springfield
- Diocese of St. Cloud
- Diocese of Winona
- Augustinian Order
- Jesuit Order
- Christian Brothers Order
- Franciscan Sisters
- Dominican Sisters
- Salesian Brothers
- Benedictine Brothers
Jessica has been featured in international media for her work, including CNN, CNN International, Fox News, Mega TV, and news agencies in Mexico, Italy, Costa Rica, and Australia.
In 2011, Jessica was nominated for the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Child Advocacy Award for her dedication to the protection of children.
Jessica received her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois, in 2009. She also completed a summer program at Sorbonne Faculty of Law in Paris, France. Jessica received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2000. She also received a Paralegal Certificate from the Minnesota Paralegal Institute in 2002, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Jessica is admitted to the Florida Bar and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. She has been admitted pro hac vice in several states, including Colorado, New Hampshire, and Texas.
She is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Phi Alpha Delta, a legal fraternity, and Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership honor society. She has also achieved the Degree of Special Distinction in the National Forensics League, a speech and debate honor society. As a college senior, Jessica received the Heart of St. Thomas Community Award for her dedication to the student body of the University of St. Thomas.
Jessica has been committed to volunteer service since her childhood. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Reach Out Community Center in Chicago, Illinois, and has participated in building projects with Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House.
Publications:
Balancing Justice’s Other Scales, Minnesota Trial Lawyer Magazine, Spring 2006.
Sins of the Father: Why the Time is Right to Prosecute Pope Benedict XVI for Crimes Against Humanity (originally a law school thesis, now a working draft to be submitted for publication)
