Bio
Jessica Swonger is an attorney focused on civil liberties and human rights. Her work centers on protecting the rights of vulnerable communities and advancing accountability for human rights violations.
Prior to joining the ACLU, Jessica served as a Student Attorney in the International Human Rights Law Clinic at American University Washington College of Law, where she represented individuals and organizations before U.S. agencies and international human rights bodies. Her work included refugee and asylum matters, family reunification, and advocacy on behalf of death row clients through submissions to regional and international tribunals. She also contributed to efforts to investigate and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide through her work with the War Crimes Research Office. Jessica’s additional experience includes serving as a Research Associate with the Lawyering Peace Program, where she supported the Sudanese peace process, and working on litigation strategies and advocacy efforts to promote democratic governance with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti.
Jessica earned her Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law (2025), and resides in Overland Park.