Jihan Walker is a trial attorney focused on the defense of individual and class action product liability lawsuits. She is involved in all stages of litigation such as taking and defending expert and fact depositions, motions practice, and cross-examining fact and expert witnesses at trial.
Before joining Jones Day, Jihan served as a trial and appellate attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps for eight years, gaining substantial trial and appellate experience. As a prosecutor and defense attorney, she tried dozens of complex felony jury trials, bench trials, and contested sentencing hearings. She also successfully defended soldiers in hundreds of adverse administrative separation proceedings. As an appellate attorney, Jihan managed the worldwide representation of the U.S. Army in interlocutory appeals, extraordinary writs, capital cases, and high-profile cases. In a prominent capital case, United States v. Hennis, Jihan successfully argued case dispositive issues on appeal such as challenges for cause against jurors, newly discovered evidence, and the constitutionality of jury instructions. In another high-profile case, United States v. Bergdahl, she successfully represented the government before federal appellate courts in numerous extraordinary writs under the All Writs Act.
Jihan speaks and writes Spanish (basic fluency) and was awarded a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, and two Army Achievement Medals for her military service in Afghanistan and across multiple duty locations.
Experiencia
- Vanderbilt University (J.D. 2007; Semi-finalist, Bass, Berry & Sims Moot Court Competition; Member, Vanderbilt Moot Court Board); Emory University (B.A. in Political Science with minor in Spanish 2004; Four-year U.S. Army ROTC scholarship)
- Illinois, Florida, Georgia, U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- Served as a Major in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (2008-2016), including as branch chief and appellate attorney, U.S. Army Government Appellate Division, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (2014-2016); senior defense counsel, U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, Kandahar, Afghanistan (2013-2014); defense counsel, U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, Fort Bliss, Texas (2011-2013); and trial counsel (2009-2011) and chief of client services (2008-2009), 21st Theater Sustainment Command for U.S. Army in Europe
- Crain's Chicago Business "Notable Military Veteran Executives" (2021)
- Judicial Extern to Magistrate Judges Joel M. Feldman and C. Christopher Hagy, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia (Summer 2005)
- Spanish