John Newman is a skilled, experienced litigator in Parsons Behle & Latimer’s Missoula office. His broad practice includes land use and real property disputes, commercial, employment, and tort litigation, and environmental matters. As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, he has particular expertise in cases involving the federal government.

Capabilities

Biography

John Newman is an of counsel attorney at Parsons Behle & Latimer. He brings over six years of experience representing the United States in all manner of civil cases to a litigation practice focused on representing his clients in matters involving the federal government. John has litigated a vast array of cases in his career, including easement and title disputes, property damage, personal injury, professional negligence, employment discrimination, immigration, government records and environmental matters. As a former public sector land use planner and decades-long member of local planning boards and commissions, John has deep expertise in land use and development issues. He has tried cases in state and federal courts and argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

John began his legal career as a law clerk to then-Chief U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen in Missoula. He then represented local governments and corporate clients in private practice before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In addition to his civil practice with the government, John served as the District Elections Officer prosecuting election crimes, and as the U.S. Attorney’s Office point of contact for ethics and professional responsibility matters. In prior professional lives, John mapped fiber optic networks in New York City and was a consulting engineer for a global property insurer. He holds both a law degree and master’s degree in cultural geography from the University of Montana and an undergraduate degree in chemistry and environmental studies from Middlebury College.

Accomplishments

Academic

University of Montana School of Law, (J.D. with Honors, 2014)

  • American College of Trial Lawyers National Trial Team member
  • Teaching Assistant, Legal Research & Writing
  • Editor, Public Lands and Resources Law Review
  • Cremer Award for Best Environmental Research Paper

University of Montana Department of Geography (M.S., 2009)

  • Teaching Assistant
  • Thesis: Rural Subdivision Planning in Missoula County, Montana

Middlebury College, Departments of Chemistry and Environmental Studies (B.A., 2002)

Associations

Professional

State Bar of Montana

Federal Bar Association, Montana Chapter (Director)

Community

Missoula County Elections Advisory Committee

Missoula City Board of Adjustment

Insights

Articles

Presentations

Credentials

Licensed

Montana
U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Montana
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

Education

University of Montana School of Law