Job Shadow #3

Job Shadow with Jennifer Susman

Jennifer, a native of Chicago, is an attorney at Starnes Davis Florie. Jennifer has extensive litigation experience. She began her career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County, Illinois, where she did both civil and criminal work on behalf of Cook County. After moving to Mobile, she continued her work in the public sector as an Assistant District Attorney in the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office. There, she tried bench trials and numerous felony jury trials. She attended university at Southern Methodist University, then continued to attend law school at DePaul University College of Law.

I had the opportunity to visit the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office and observe Chief Assistant DA Jennifer Susman in action. As one of the top prosecutors in the area, she works alongside District Attorney Keith Blackwood to handle all felonies and some misdemeanors within the county. Her role focuses not only on prosecuting crime but also on improving justice through reform, strategy, and community outreach.

One of the most impactful parts of this experience was hearing how committed she is to seeking justice, even when cases are flawed. Jennifer explained that sometimes cases are not investigated properly, searches are done incorrectly, or the charges don’t meet the legal elements of a crime. In those cases, it’s her responsibility to ensure the system doesn’t move forward unjustly. She emphasized that “setting out to do what is right has been the greatest privilege of my career.” To strengthen their work, more experienced attorneys are being placed in district court, and less experienced ones are moved to circuit court as part of a second chain to help clear the backlog of cases.

The DA’s office is also taking proactive steps to prevent crime by addressing its root causes. Through diversionary courts, non-violent offenders can get a second chance while receiving the help they need. There are specialized courts like Veterans Court, Drug Court, and a newly launched Mental Health Court for individuals whose crimes stem from psychological struggles. Jennifer noted that in her experience, 85% of those who successfully graduate from drug court in Mobile County do not reoffend.

Another initiative that stood out was the Healthy Communities Initiative, which focuses on school attendance as a key predictor of future criminal behavior. Every school in Mobile County is now involved, and thanks to this effort, truancy has decreased by 31% overall, with chronic absences (over 18 days) down by more than 45%. Additionally, Jennifer spoke about the growing concern over fentanyl, explaining that even one sugar-packet-sized amount can kill hundreds of people. They’re seeking funds to create a trafficking task force that would allow them to prosecute dealers more aggressively, especially in overdose-related cases. This shadowing experience gave me a new perspective on criminal justice—not just as punishment, but as a path toward prevention and positive change.

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