For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 11
from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
in 1952, he landed a job with a star criminal
defense lawyer of that time, Thomas D. McBride
(later a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice),
who was to become John's mentor. As McBride's
associate, John had the opportunity in his first
years in practice to be part of the legendary
pro bono defense team for the leadership of
the Communist Party in Philadelphia, facing
prosecution under the notorious Smith Act. (The
charge was conspiring to teach the necessity
of overthrowing the government. Co-counsel
included such legendary names as Joseph Lord,
Edmund Spaeth, David Cohen, Robert Sayre,
and Henry Sawyer.) Of all such prosecutions
nationally, the Philadelphia case was the only one
to conclude favorably for the defense. The Third
Circuit overturned all the defendants' convictions,
acquitting four of nine outright, for legal reasons
developed by McBride and John. Continuing in
the fight against McCarthyism, John defended
many Philadelphia school teachers who were
fired for their past political associations or for
refusing to sign "loyalty oaths." In one such case
in 1958, barely six years out of law school and not
yet 30 years old, John argued before the Supreme
Court of the United States.
John's early success came despite the fact that
he struggled with active alcoholism. Ultimately
John 'hit bottom" and with the help of loving
family and friends, got into treatment, where
he was exposed to the 12 Steps of Alcoholics
Anonymous. John committed himself to the AA
program and remained sober until his death
more than 50 years later. John believed that
his own recovery depended upon his helping
others to achieve sobriety, and therefore worked
tirelessly toward that end. He established a
telephone helpline for addicted lawyers, which
grew into the Lawyers' and Judges' Assistance
Committee of the Philadelphia Bar. In 1988, John
and others expanded the Philadelphia effort into
the statewide Pennsylvania Lawyers Concerned
for Lawyers, which has become the national
model for peer support organizations throughout
the country, assisting attorneys who continue to
struggle with substance use disorders, depression
and other mental illness.
Not only did John create and build enduring
organizations, but he also personally came to
the rescue of countless colleagues in trouble.
He would pick up their practices when they
were unable to continue and represent them
before the Disciplinary Board on a pro bono
basis. Out of that work grew his second
practice specialty, that of ethics counseling
and professional discipline defense. (For
years, John taught the "mitigation" portion
of the professional training program for
Pennsylvania's Disciplinary Board and staff.) He
also made himself an expert in the developing
field of law and psychiatry, teaming with
many of the region's top mental health
professionals. For this work, John was awarded
the American Inns of Court Professionalism
Award (presented at a Third Circuit conference
by Justice Souter), the Benjamin Rush
Award from the Philadelphia Psychiatric
Society, PACDL's Liberty Award, the Clifford
Scott Green Bill of Rights Award from the
Philadelphia Federal Criminal Law Committee,
and many other awards and honors.
John acted on his political and social
principles by serving as volunteer vice chair of
the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission.
He was also a longtime board member of
Eagleville Foundation and Hospital.
In the 1970s, John founded what many
regarded at the time as the preeminent
criminal defense firm in Philadelphia, Carroll,
Creamer, Carroll & Duffy (CCCD). (His partners
were former state attorney general J. Shane
Creamer, Chester County legend John J.
Duffy, and a then-rising young talent from
the Defender Association of Philadelphia,
Thomas Colas Carroll (no relation).) It was
there that co-author Peter Goldberger had
the privilege of working as an associate.
During that time, CCCD handled many of the
biggest and most challenging cases in the
state and federal courts, representing labor
leaders, prominent politicians (federal, state
and local, of both parties), and organized
criminals, among others. When no one else
in Philadelphia would take the case, John
agreed, as a matter of principle, to defend
Vol. 3, Issue 2
l
For The Defense
11
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018
Contents
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 1
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 2
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - Contents
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 4
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 5
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 6
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 7
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 8
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 9
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 10
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 11
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 12
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 13
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 14
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 15
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 16
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 17
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 18
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 19
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 20
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 21
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 22
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 23
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 24
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For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 26
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For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 28
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 29
For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 30
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For the Defense - Vol. 3, Issue 2 - 2018 - 46
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