Recognized by the Georgia Senate “for his efficient, effective, unselfish, and dedicated public service,” John began practicing law in 1975, a few years after moving to Atlanta. John has since devoted his entire life to standing up for his community, his city, and his clients.

Advocating for both Inman Park and greater Atlanta community, John served as member of the Atlanta City Council and on the boards of the Georgia ACLU, Atlanta Housing Authority, and Georgia League of Conservation Voters. John worked to prevent housing discrimination and to provide residents with knowledge of their fair housing rights as Chair of the Board of Metro Fair Housing, a non-profit civil rights organization. As a founder of GreenLaw, a non-profit environmental law firm, John saw major victories that have helped shape the future for Georgia’s environment, wilderness, and waterways.

As an attorney for over 38 years, John focused on the representation of injured workers, declaring it his “charge” to work for the poor and working class. He has also given innumerable hours of his time to other groups suffering inequity–he has represented pro bono over 200 survivors of domestic violence and Wheat Street Baptist Church, one of the nation’s oldest African American churches. On the board of the Georgia ACLU, he has given countless hours to many cases, including advocating for gay rights as part of the landmark case Bowers v. Hardwick.

John’s leadership and expertise as a founding partner of Clements & Sweet drove the firm to emphasize the same commitment to undoing injustice, representing the poor and working class, and building community that he has modeled through his decades of service.

Education

Columbia University, B.A.
Atlanta Law School, J.D.

Bar and Court Admissions

State Bar of Georgia
11th Circuit Court of Appeals
Georgia Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of Georgia
United States Supreme Court