Senior Counsel

John G. Kester

Identified as one of "Washington's Top Lawyers" by Washingtonian magazine (December 2004), Mr. Kester's practice is in general litigation, both civil and criminal, with a heavy emphasis on appellate matters. He has argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on several occasions, including in important constitutional cases. He also has successfully focused on the difficult process of obtaining grants of review from the Supreme Court, and also has presented amicus curiae briefs to the Court in major cases.

Mr. Kester has briefed and argued dozens of cases in federal courts of appeals throughout the country, as well as in many state supreme courts and appellate courts. He has been recognized by the National Association of Attorneys General for counseling lawyers in improving their advocacy before the Supreme Court.

Mr. Kester also has particular experience in federal administrative law, including significant cases interpreting major federal regulatory statutes such as the Environmental Protection Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act. In federal affairs he draws on experience in government service at high levels of the Department of Defense, and has been counsel in cases involving legal regulation of political activity. He also has handled a number of cases involving international extradition, and is author of a widely-cited article on the subject.

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Education

Harvard Law School, LL.B., magna cum laude, 1963; President, Harvard Law Review
Université d'Aix-Marseille, France, 1959-1960
University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1959

Practice Focus

Admissions

District of Columbia
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals
United States Court of International Trade
United States Court of Appeals Armed Forces
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Northern District of California, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, Southern District of Texas, and District of Maryland

Government Service

Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, United States Judicial Conference, 2005

White House Fellows Regional Selection Panel, 1980-1985

President's Chemical Warfare Review Commission, 1985

Academic Advisory Board, U.S. Naval Academy, 1979-1983

Board of Visitors, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1979-1981

The Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, 1977-1978

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, 1969-1972

Assistant to the General Counsel, Department of the Army, 1965-1968

Law Clerk, Associate Justice Hugo L. Black, United States Supreme Court, 1963-1965

Professional Experience

Director, Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit

Fellow, American Bar Foundation