Meet John Harkins

John Harkins is a husband, father to five children, and a lawyer with many years of experience in the criminal court system of Cook County. He is a lifelong resident of the 19th District, where he attended St. Catherine of Alexandria Grammar School in Oak Lawn and Brother Rice High School, raised his family in St. John Fisher Parish in the Beverly area, and now resides in Palos Township.

John is a John Marshall Law School graduate and an expert in criminal law. He has worked for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for almost 20 years, as the Director of the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, Sheriff’s Liaison to the Judiciary, and Assistant General Counsel.

John currently manages thousands of criminal cases and represents the Sheriff’s Office in courtrooms throughout Cook County.

If elected, John is committed to providing an ethical approach driven by integrity and his experience working with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. He will keep our communities safe and provide those involved in the system with the resources needed to address criminal behavior.

John and his wife, Jenny, a special education teacher, have dedicated their careers to public service. They are also small business owners of Treadfit, a series of fitness studios, with locations and franchises in Beverly, Lemont, and Palos Heights. John also volunteers with Special Children’s Charities and the St. Jude Knights Hockey Club, where he coaches young athletes.  

John is a dedicated community leader and longtime youth sports coach in the Beverly community and at St. Jude Knights Hockey Club. Over the years, he has coached local baseball, softball, basketball, and hockey teams, helping hundreds of young people build confidence, teamwork, and character. John brings the same commitment and energy to public service, working to build a stronger, more supportive community for families.