John Chisholm

John Chisholm is a Senior Lecturer at Marquette University, bringing over three decades of experience as a prosecutor and public servant to his academic role. He served as Milwaukee County District Attorney from 2007 to 2025 and has been deeply involved in criminal justice reform and community-based legal initiatives.

His educational background includes:

• B.A. in English Literature, Marquette University (1986)
• J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School (1994)

Chisholm's professional work centers on advancing equitable and effective prosecution practices. His research and practice interests include community prosecution, racial disparity in the criminal justice system, homicide review, and early intervention programs. He has pioneered initiatives such as the Community Prosecution Unit, Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, and the Milwaukee Early Intervention Program, reflecting a strong commitment to data-driven and collaborative legal reform.

Though no formal publications are listed, his work with academic partners on evaluating prosecutorial functions indicates scholarly engagement, particularly in analyzing systemic bias and improving justice outcomes.

Notable professional affiliations and leadership roles include:

• Executive Board, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
• Executive Board, Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College
• State Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Founding Member, Milwaukee County Community Justice Council
• Advocate, Sojourner Family Peace Center

Chisholm has advised and collaborated extensively with courts, public defenders, and academic institutions. While no formal grants are mentioned, his leadership in launching and expanding publicly funded justice programs suggests significant grant- or policy-backed initiatives. He has worked closely with academic partners to evaluate criminal justice data, particularly in the area of racial disparity, indicating an applied research component to his work.

There is no mention of specific labs or research teams, but his office-led units—such as the Child Protection Advocacy Unit and Community Prosecution Unit—functioned as operational research and intervention teams, often in partnership with external stakeholders.