Meet Amari Dawson

Candidate for Cook County Judge - 17th Subcircuit

Amari Dawson lived throughout Illinois during most of her childhood. She resided on the west and south sides of Chicago most of that time. Amari lived in some neighborhoods that poured into the well-being of its residents and some that did not. As a child Amari was exposed to impoverished neighborhoods that were often filled with crime. Amari was reared by parents who served not only the communities in which their family lived, but other communities within the Chicagoland area. Watching her parents assist other families in need, instilled in Amari the passion to live up to her name. Afterall, the name Amari, which originates from the root word love, in multiple languages, meant that she would have love for people.

Amari’s love for people inspired her to set a goal at an early age to become an attorney. In her teenage years, Amari experienced what she refers to as “growing pains.” These “growing pains” included, but were not limited to, overcoming emotional trauma after being impacted by violence, navigating motherhood during adolescence, and facing the imperfections that are imbedded within the justice system.

Overcoming the challenges that she faced, Amari graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1999 from Rust College, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and a Juris Doctor in 2004, from the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi. In addition to being licensed to practice law in Illinois, Amari is also licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court. After law school Amari continued her education by obtaining a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Non-Profit Management at the Kellogg School of Management in 2007 in Evanston, Illinois.

Amari has served the public as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois, for almost 18 years. She currently serves in the division of Criminal Appeals where she analyzes the outcomes of the trial courts. Prior to her service in the appeals division, Amari served as a trial lawyer who prosecuted crimes as minor as traffic offenses, to crimes as serious as murder. Amari has also served as an advisor and supervisor to other attorneys within the Office. Outside of her career as a prosecutor, Amari served as the Director of Community Corrections and Interventions at Beloved Community Family Services, a non-profit community-based organization in Englewood, a Senior Parole Agent for the State of Illinois, and a Public Administration Intern for the Office of the Governor in Illinois.

Amari currently resides in south suburban Cook County and has done so for over 16 years. Since living in the 17th Judicial Subcircuit Amari has provided services through volunteerism at entities such as the Woodlawn Community Food Pantry, Primo Center, and Operation Care. Her volunteerism at these entities and others were due to her affiliation with the local chapter of the National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA), where she currently serves as the Vice President of Programs. Amari is also a member of the Cook County Bar Association.

As Amari serves the public, she does so with love for all of humanity.