Jason R. Cheek
Federal Trial Attorney | Legal Educator
About
Jason R. Cheek is a federal trial attorney with nearly two decades of litigation experience representing the United States in complex civil matters. His practice has focused on high-stakes litigation, case development, trial strategy, and the development of young lawyers through mentorship and training.
Jason was the first person in his family’s history to graduate from college. While earning a journalism degree from the University of Georgia, he worked at the student-run radio station and served as the Operations Director, overseeing the technical aspects of broadcasting over the airwaves. His colleagues awarded him the Executive of the Year distinction based on his deep commitment to the work.
After graduating, Jason spent three years working for an internet startup that developed from a colleague’s thesis. He developed code, worked in graphic design, and administered databases. Jason subsequently moved to Washington, D.C., to attend the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and held prestigious internships at the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. In his final year of law school, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy.
His legal career began as a judicial law clerk, giving him valuable insights into the judicial decision-making process. Following his clerkship, Jason worked as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Torts Branch in Washington, D.C. For nearly seven years, he litigated high-stakes cases throughout the country from Tucson, Arizona, to Syracuse, New York, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and many places in between.
Since 2014, Jason has served in numerous roles in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Birmingham. Most recently, as Civil Chief, he oversees all civil litigation filed against or by the federal government and its employees.
He is particularly interested in legal education, with teaching interests in trial advocacy, discovery, civil procedure, evidence, torts, medical malpractice, and civil rights. Jason brings a courtroom-centered, skills-based approach to legal instruction.
Jason’s interests extend beyond the courtroom, including as a Cub Scouts Den Leader. He is also involved in Scouting America and serves as a member of his local library’s foundation board. Jason adores his phenomenal wife of twenty-four years, and enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his three feisty children.
Selected Work & Experience
Lead counsel in complex civil litigation including civil rights, tort claims, government contracts, constitutional matters, environmental suits, challenges to federal programs.
Serves as office internship coordinator, training and mentoring law students and early-career attorneys.
Develops coursework and classroom simulations including case development, discovery, deposition strategy, working with expert witnesses, civil procedure, torts, federal courts, ediscovery, artificial intelligence, and pretrial/trial advocacy.
Speaking & Teaching Interests
Trial Advocacy · Discovery · Civil Procedure · Evidence · Medical Malpractice · Torts · Professional Responsibility · Civil Rights · Technology and the Law · Remedies · Mediation