John is a Helena native. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Montana in 1973, and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana School of Law in 1976, where he was an associate editor of the Montana Law Review. John was admitted to practice in Montana and the U.S. District Court of Montana in 1976, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1984, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992. John has been in private practice for 32 years, and is a founding member of Hughes, Kellner, Sullivan and Alke. His practice emphasizes energy and public utility law, and he has extensive litigation experience within his area of expertise at the administrative level, as well as in state and federal court. He has orally argued many cases to the Montana Supreme Court, as well as cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He holds an AV rating in Martindale Hubbell and is listed in the Best Lawyers in America, as well as Super Lawyers of the Mountain States. His hobbies include mountain climbing, skiing, and biking.