BELLEVILLE, IL, February 02, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Erin K. Conner has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Conner has established herself as an expert in criminal defense through a distinguished legal career spanning 15 years. As owner of The Conner Law Firm LLC since 2025, she manages all aspects of criminal defense cases from inception through appeal. Her responsibilities include reviewing discovery for factual and constitutional errors, negotiating with state prosecutors, conducting legal research and constitutional analysis, preparing motions to suppress evidence, trying cases before judges and juries, advocating for sentence reductions, filing direct appeals, handling post-conviction petitions and petitions for relief from judgment, and litigating expungements and juvenile sex offender registry removal cases. Inspired by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's perspective on dissenting opinions and their potential future impact, Ms. Conner approaches each case with determination to find solutions even when outcomes seem uncertain.

Throughout her career, Ms. Conner has achieved several notable milestones that underscore her commitment to justice and her clients. Among her most significant accomplishments is her first jury trial as a trial attorney, where she successfully defended a client accused of throwing hot grease on his girlfriend. Through meticulous motion practice and detailed evidence analysis, she identified a critical 23-minute gap between the incident and the 911 call, highlighted the cleaned crime scene and the absence of cooking evidence, and emphasized inconsistencies in the girlfriend's story and injuries to her client. These efforts led to her client's acquittal on all charges. As a prosecutor, she handled an aggravated driving under the influence death case involving an expired blood collection vial after a tragic accident on Interstate 64. By conducting extensive legal research across state lines and presenting expert testimony from the state's chief toxicologist, she clarified compliance standards for blood collection procedures. Her rigorous approach resulted in the admissibility of key evidence and a stipulated bench trial that culminated in the defendant's conviction.

Prior to founding her own firm, Ms. Conner served as an attorney at Kuehn, Beasley & Young P.C. in Belleville from 2022 to 2025. In this capacity, she continued to build her reputation as a skilled litigator and advocate for clients facing complex legal challenges. Ms. Conner served as a member of the St. Clair County Post Conviction Panel, further demonstrating her commitment to ensuring due process and post-conviction relief for those seeking justice.

From 2014 to 2022, Ms. Conner was an assistant state's attorney at the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office in Belleville. During this period, she prosecuted a wide range of violent crimes and developed expertise in trial preparation and courtroom advocacy. Her work contributed to the fair administration of justice within St. Clair County. She also contributed to legal education as an adjunct professor at McKendree University in Lebanon from 2015 to 2019.

Her early career included service as an assistant public defender at the St. Clair County Public Defender's Office from 2010 to 2014. In this role, she represented indigent clients in criminal matters and gained valuable experience in defense strategy and client advocacy.

Ms. Conner is admitted to practice law before the Illinois Bar and the Southern District of Illinois Federal Court. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and serves as treasurer for both the St. Clair County Bar Association and the East St. Louis Bar Association.

Her academic background includes earning a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2011, where she received the Academic Excellence Award in Criminal Law. Ms. Conner graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in biology and political science from McKendree University in 2008.

Ms. Conner's initial aspiration was to become a pediatrician; however, participation in speech and debate during high school, and later college, revealed her talent for argumentation. As a four-time national champion at the Pi Kappa Delta national championships, she recognized that these skills could be channeled into law rather than medicine.

Ms. Conner's professional excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Rising Star Award from McKendree University, the Phenomenal Woman Award from the Center for Racial Harmony, the Lincoln Laureate Award from McKendree University, and speaker awards and the second-best brief award at Jessup International Law Moot Court competitions.

Ms. Conner attributes her achievements to the sacrifices made by her mother and father, Charlotte and Marshall Conner; her mother's unwavering, unconditional support and her father's dedication as a truck driver provided opportunities that shaped her path and instilled in her the values of hard work and perseverance. Influential teachers throughout grade school and college encouraged her to aim higher than her circumstances suggested.

Beyond her legal practice, Ms. Conner is civically engaged as chairperson of the Belleville Cemetery Board and was previously involved with the Belleville Human Relations Commission. In addition to her professional pursuits, Ms. Conner enjoys traveling with her husband, Chris, watching St. Louis Blues hockey games, and spending time with her cats, Sophia and Alexei.

Looking ahead, she intends to grow her practice while providing exceptional representation to individuals charged with crimes or seeking relief related to the criminal justice system in Illinois—including matters such as driver's license reinstatement and orders of protection—ensuring that diligence, research skills and effective advocacy remain hallmarks of her reputation within the legal community.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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