Born and raised in Saskatoon, John worked for several years as an audiovisual technician before attending the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining his Bachelor of Laws in 1985. He articled with the firm of Gauley & Co. and after practicing for two years moved to Humboldt in 1988 to join the firm of Sutherland, Behiel, Scott and Weber. John became a partner in 1996, and continues practice with his partners Aaron Behiel and Amber Biemans, and associate Greg Wilson. John's practice areas include civil and criminal litigation, family law, as well as general practice covering real estate, wills and estates, and corporate commercial. He has appeared numerous times in the Provincial Court, Court of Queen's Bench, and the Court of Appeal, and before various boards and tribunals including the Labour Relations Board, Water Appeal Board, and the Pension Appeals Board. John has served as a Bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan from 2004 to the present. He was a board member of the Saskatchewan Legal Education Society Inc. (SKLESI) from 2004-2009. In 2006 John was appointed to the Saskatchewan Farm Land Security Board, serving until April 2008. Locally, John served as a Trustee for the former Humboldt High School Board. He sat as a member of the Humboldt Library Board, and as one of the representatives to the Wapiti Regional Library Board. He has participated in many community activites, such as local amateur theatre productions, and was a member of Voices In Tyme, a vocal jazz group. John's leisure interests include reading, golf, and music.