Kevin St. John is an experienced litigator, advocate, problem solver, and counselor. His experience includes trial-level and appellate litigation in state and federal courts, as well as litigation management. The Wisconsin Law Journal has recognized St. John as a Leader in the Law.
St. John has represented public corporations, privately held companies, non-profits, and government officials in their official capacity.
St. John’s current litigation practice covers a diverse range of subjects. These include constitutional law, consumer protection law, class actions, commercial law, environmental law, public records, contracts, election law, and many others. St. John’s experience gives him unique insights into government enforcement actions and challenges to administrative rulemaking, as well as practice before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. St. John has also provided a full range of counsel to clients on issues ranging from acquisitions to governance to employment.
From 2011-2015, St. John was Wisconsin’s Deputy Attorney General, the number two official in the state Department of Justice. There he was the executive manager of over 600 employees, including approximately 100 lawyers. While with DOJ, St. John provided counsel to high-level executive officials and litigated significant constitutional cases.
St. John lives in Madison and is the father of three school-aged children. He volunteers as a youth sports coach and has been active in many public committees, including prior service on the Governor’s Judicial Advisory Selection Committee, the advisory committee for the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute, and numerous state legislative/executive special committees. St. John is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Chicago Law School. After practicing law in Washington, D.C., St. John returned to Madison in 2004.
Select Cases
- In Wisconsin Supreme Court, successfully appealed multi-million dollar non-economic damages award, obtaining decision upholding validity of tort reform legislation and overruling prior Supreme Court decision.
- In federal court, successfully represented justices of Wisconsin Supreme Court in federal constitutional challenge to validity of state constitutional amendment altering the manner by which the chief justice is selected.
- In Seventh Circuit, successfully appealed adverse interlocutory discovery order, protecting client’s privilege from costly discovery.
- In Wisconsin Supreme Court, represented numerous clients as nonparties in various cases involving diverse subject matter including: the scope of general personal jurisdiction, the informed consent law, the scope of the line-item veto, and Wisconsin’s election laws.
- In Wisconsin circuit court, successfully represented clients in challenges to government’s conduct under open meetings and public records laws.
- In Wisconsin Supreme Court, successfully defended significant public policy legislation against multiple constitutional challenges involving the equal protection clause, the First Amendment, and Wisconsin’s home rule provisions.
- In Wisconsin Supreme Court, successfully obtained supervisory writ to vacate circuit court’s improperly issued contempt order against client.
- In Wisconsin Supreme Court, successfully obtained supervisory writ, affirming validity of budget repair bill in case challenging the validity of the legislative process connected with the passage of the bill.
- In United States Supreme Court, federal district court, and State Supreme Court, represented state legislature in multiple disputes relating to redistricting.
- In Wisconsin circuit court, successfully reopened judgment to obtain for same-sex married couple a parentage order of child born to a surrogate.
- In Seventh Circuit, successfully obtained a decision affirming dismissal of class action Fair Credit Reporting Act case on constitutional grounds in which a provisional settlement had previously been reached; successfully obtained dismissal of collateral class action filed in state court.
- In federal Administrative Procedures Act judicial review, successfully challenged validity of administrative rule promulgated by the United States Department of Education.
- Represented clients in challenges to federal and state court administrative rulemaking or adjudications in areas including constitutional law, environmental law, education law, public utilities law, and agriculture law.
- Represented numerous clients in contract disputes and consumer protection law disputes.
- Represented industry and public authorities in environmental enforcement actions and consumer protection actions.
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Dane County Bar Association
Admissions:
- Wisconsin
- United States Supreme Court
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
Education:
- University of Chicago Law School – J.D., with honors
- University of Wisconsin, Madison – B.S., with distinction