Joe John was born in East Chicago, Ind., and early learned the values of hard work and dedication from his parents, themselves the children of Eastern European immigrants. Joe and his family eventually settled in North Augusta, SC. Following high school, Joe attended Belmont Abbey College and subsequently earned BA, MA and JD degrees at UNC-Chapel Hill. His UNC studies of English, Comparative Literature and Law were complemented by his attending the University of Paris (Sorbonne) on a Fulbright and French Government scholarship, and later Heidelberg University.
In his first position as an attorney, Rep John worked with indigent clients as staff attorney with the privately funded Greensboro Legal Aid Foundation. He subsequently served as an Assistant District Attorney and Chief Assistant District Attorney for Guilford County and then was a litigation attorney in the Greensboro legal partnership of Pell, Pell, Weston and John.
During his legal career, Rep. John completed the Program for Prosecuting Attorneys at Northwestern School of Law and received a Diploma in General Jurisdiction Studies from the National Judicial College. He also was awarded a Certification in Mediator Skills from the American Arbitration Association.
Rep. John began a 25+ year career in North Carolina's judiciary as a Guilford County District Court Judge, was designated Chief District Court Judge, and subsequently selected Resident Superior Court Judge. Upon election as Associate Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, he moved his family to North Raleigh in 1993. He served on the Court until 2001. In 1998, the Greensboro News & Record described him as "the epitome of the career professional judge" who had achieved an "exemplary record."
Following his appellate court term, he remained active as an Emergency Judge of the NC Court of Appeals and the NC Superior Court, and worked as an arbitrator and Court of Appeals and NC Superior Court Certified Mediator. He also was Executive Reporter and Research Facilitator for the NC Superior Court Judges Civil Jury Instructions Committee under the auspices of the NC School of Government.
In 2008, Rep. John joined the NC Division of Motor Vehicles, holding positions as Director of Hearings, Acting Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner. He accepted appointment as the Acting Director of the State Crime Lab in late 2010. Following a national search, he was designated Director, serving until 2014. In 2016, the Raleigh News & Observer wrote that he "took on some tough duty when called in to straighten out the SBI Crime Lab, and he did an excellent job."
In 2016, Rep. John was elected to the NC House of Representatives from District 40 (Wake Co.), where he continues to serve. During his legislative service, he has been Chair of the North Carolina Courts Commission and a member of the General Assembly's Legislative Ethics Committee. His NC House committee assignments include Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety Appropriations, Rules Calendar and Operations of the House, Judiciary, Election Law and Campaign Finance, and Education--Community Colleges and Transportation.
Rep. John has been honored to receive the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine award. It is described as the "most valued of the honors which the Governor of North Carolina can bestow" and is "presented to honor persons who have a proven record of service to the State." He and his wife of 41 years, Evelyn, still call North Raleigh home. They have raised three children, and are now the grandparents of seven grandchildren.