Biography

Jonathan Rapping is a Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Justice Certificate Program at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He is also the founder and President of Gideon’s Promise, a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform criminal justice by building a movement of public defenders who provide equal justice for marginalized communities.

Rapping recently authored Gideon’s Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice. Most notably among numerous recognitions, Rapping was the recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant for his cutting-edge approach to justice transformation.  He also recently received the Alumni Professional Achievement Award form his alma mater, The University of Chicago and was elected for membership to the American Law Institute. He is a frequent contributor to the national conversation on criminal justice reform and has been featured by numerous media outlets. Rapping has been a speaker at TEDx Atlanta, and frequently presents nationally.

Rapping is the host of the podcast Justice Rap-Up. Rapping’s work was the inspiration for the award-winning HBO documentary “Gideon’s Army.” After receiving a B.A. from University of Chicago, he received a J.D. from George Washington University and a M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.