Before co-founding Gilroy Napoli Short LLC—renowned for being voted Best in the Willamette Valley for three consecutive years—John Gilroy had several substantial years under his belt as a Deputy District Attorney at the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, one of the foremost district attorney’s offices in Oregon. Here, he demonstrated his prowess in prosecuting a spectrum of criminal cases, spanning from misdemeanors to felonies.

John’s extensive experience in the D.A.’s office equipped him to transition effortlessly into the spheres of DUII/drunk driving defense, and more prominently, criminal defense, along with personal injury practice. His focus on criminal defense showcases his dedication to upholding justice and his commitment to defending the rights of the accused. In 2014, he was accorded the honor of joining “The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers,” an exclusive assembly of America’s elite Trial Lawyers, reserved solely for those who exhibit superior qualifications in areas such as leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial proficiency.
Educational and Professional Background

John achieved his B.S. in Political Science from Santa Clara University in 1993 and obtained his J.D. from the University of Oregon in 1998. Prior to embarking on his legal career, John contributed as a legislative aide in Senator Robert Packwood’s office in Washington, D.C.

Personal Insights
Originating from a close-knit family and the youngest of seven siblings, John was raised in the Portland area, the son of the late Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge, Patrick D. Gilroy. He shares a passion for law with two of his brothers who are attorneys in the metro area. A family man, John is married and has five children. Outside his professional realm, he relishes time with his family and enjoys golf, skiing, fishing, basketball, hiking, and camping.

Areas of Practice

Criminal Defense
DUII Defense
Personal Injury

Career Overview

Attorney at Law, Gilroy & Napoli, LLC, Portland, Oregon, 2003-Present
Lake Oswego Municipal Court Judge pro tem, 2012-Present
Clackamas County Justice of the Peace pro tem, 2011-Present
Deputy District Attorney, Washington County District Attorney’s Office, 1999-2003

Bar Admissions

Oregon
Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Memberships & Affiliations

National Trial Lawyers Association “Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers” (2014)
Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
Multnomah County Bar Association
Washington County Bar Association
Clackamas County Bar Association

Academic Credentials

J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 1998
B.S., Santa Clara University, 1993
Institute for European Studies, Freiburg, Germany, 1991

John’s commitment to criminal defense and his unparalleled experience have been instrumental in securing Gilroy Napoli Short’s reputation as a trusted and respected law firm, consistently being recognized as the Best in the Willamette Valley.