John is a third generation North Carolina lawyer whose family has cumulatively practiced law in “The Old North State” for more than 100 years.
In the 25 years of his practice of law, John has secured numerous multi-million dollar results for his clients on a variety of legal issues, argued successfully in both state and federal appellate courts, and been involved in the shaping of modern North Carolina legal precedent. Upon hearing John argue a case in a Federal Court of Appeals, a retired justice from the North Carolina Supreme Court once remarked: “That was the finest oral argument I have ever heard.”
The namesake and oldest grandson of the late federal Judge John D. Larkins, Jr., John did graduate work at Harvard Divinity School before taking a PhD in religion from Duke University. He has published a number of scholarly articles and two books related to American Indian religion and the history of world religions. He is currently working on his third book: a history of Cherokee religion.
In addition to practicing law full-time, John currently teaches Federal Indian Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law. When not occupied with work and teaching, John is passionate about spending his free time with his family.
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Family Law
Education: East Carolina University 1973–75; University of North Carolina, A.B. 1977; Harvard Divinity School 1977–78; Duke University, Ph.D., 1983; University of North Carolina, J.D., 1989.