John Roach’s legal career began shortly after he graduated from law school. After first serving as a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Senior Judge Pierce Lively, John moved to Washington, D.C. to join Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. He focused on the area of Corporate and Securities Practice as an attorney with the firm.
After his return to Kentucky, he became a partner at Ransdell, Roach & Wier, PLLC, based in Lexington. During his five years with the firm, John had a diverse legal practice, with an emphasis in civil rights and commercial litigation. He also appeared as counsel in 14 jury trials, and successfully argued cases before the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Kentucky Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
In 2003, John moved to Frankfort to serve as General Counsel to Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher. He was later appointed by Governor Fletcher to the Kentucky Supreme Court, serving on the high court from June 2005 to November 2006. While on the Supreme Court John authored more than 20 published majority opinions, including Patterson v. Blair, S.W.3d 361 (Ky. 2005)(defining the contours of vicarious liability under Kentucky law for intentional torts); Williams v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., S.W.3d 492 (Ky. 2005)(extensive analysis of McDonnell Douglas framework to Kentucky employment discrimination claims); and Knotts v. Zurich Ins. Co., S.W.3d 512 (Ky. 2006)(important bad faith case establishing the standards for admissibility of post-filing conduct by an insurer). After his tenure on the Kentucky Supreme Court, John returned to private practice at Ransdell & Roach, PLLC.
John, a native of Frankfort, now lives in Lexington with his wife Maria and two children, Catherine and Bennett. John and his family attend Southland Christian Church. John also serves on the Board of Directors of the Lexington Christian Academy.
Practice Areas:Equine law, labor and employment law and litigation, commercial litigation, appellate advocacy, administrative law, constitutional law, corporate law and commercial transactions. John also has experience as a mediator.
Education:
University of Kentucky College of Law
J.D., with high distinction, 1992
Order of the Coif (admission restricted to top 10 percent of graduating class)
Recipient of the Faculty Cup (most outstanding graduate)
Articles Editor for the Kentucky Law Journal
Washington and Lee University
B.A., magna cum laude, 1989
Majors in Economics and European History
