John J. Kennedy, JR.

About John J. Kennedy, Jr.

John J. Kennedy, Jr., is the founding partner of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, L.L.C. In 1988, John formed Kennedy & Johnson, along with David Johnson. John is an accomplished trial attorney, spending most of his more than 42 years practicing in Connecticut, representing injured clients before juries.

After more than four decades practicing law, John still finds trying cases to juries in automobile accident, premises liability, medical malpractice and product liability cases his passion. In addition to handling complex jury trials, John has decades of experience handling cases before trial, mediating and arbitrating matters and negotiating claims on behalf of... Read More

John J. Kennedy, Jr., is the founding partner of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, L.L.C. In 1988, John formed Kennedy & Johnson, along with David Johnson. John is an accomplished trial attorney, spending most of his more than 42 years practicing in Connecticut, representing injured clients before juries.

After more than four decades practicing law, John still finds trying cases to juries in automobile accident, premises liability, medical malpractice and product liability cases his passion. In addition to handling complex jury trials, John has decades of experience handling cases before trial, mediating and arbitrating matters and negotiating claims on behalf of his clients. He is often selected as a mediator and arbitrator in medical malpractice and other personal injury cases.

John was honored to be one of just 500 lawyers in the United States inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. John is also an active member of the New Haven County Bar Association and served as president of that organization in 1991-1992. John participates in the American Association for Justice and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, and served as president in 2011-2012. He is also a member of ABOTA and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

John believes in the importance of a lawyer's knowledge of the law in effective representation of clients. Therefore, John has often served as a lecturer to his peers at continuing legal education programs through the Connecticut Bar Association, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and the New Haven County Bar Association.

John is admitted to practice at the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and for the Eastern, Southern and Northern districts of New York, as well as all state courts in Connecticut. He has served since 2011 as co-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.

John is listed in Best Lawyers in America in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury and product liability. In 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021, John was named Best Lawyers' New Haven Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year. In 2016 and 2018, John was named Best Lawyers' New Haven Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year. John has been recognized for many years in Connecticut Super Lawyers' and has been on their Top 10 List for past several years. In 2018 John was honored to be given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.

A native of Connecticut, John lives in Cheshire with his wife of 45 years, Sandy. John travels between trials when he can. He also enjoys cooking, reading a good novel and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Read Less

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, Connecticut

J.D. - 1978

Honors: With Honors

Yale University

B.A. - 1975

Honors: magna cum laude

License

State:

Year:

Next Registration: May, 2025

Awards

Named Best Lawyers’ 2021 New Haven Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year

Named Super Lawyers’ 2020, Connecticut Top 10, Top 50 New England

Named Best Lawyers’ 2019 New Haven Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year

Named Super Lawyers’ 2019, Top 100 New England

Named Super Lawyers’ 2019, Connecticut Top 10

Named Best Lawyers' 2018 New Haven Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year

Associations

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, President 2011-2012

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2010-Present

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Parliamentarian, 2006 to 2007

New Haven County Bar Association, President, 1991 to 1992

New Haven... Read More

Associations

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, President 2011-2012

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2010-Present

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Parliamentarian, 2006 to 2007

New Haven County Bar Association, President, 1991 to 1992

New Haven County Bar Association, Member, Present

American Association for Justice, Member

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Member

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Legal Education Committee, Co-Chair

International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2012 – present

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Continuing Legal Education Committee, Co-Chair

U.S. District Court eastern District of New York

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

U.S. District Court District of Connecticut

U.S. District Court Northern District of New York

Connecticut

U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

Read Less

Bar Admissions

Connecticut

U.S. District Court District of Connecticut

U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York

U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court Northern District of New York

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Bar Admissions

Connecticut

U.S. District Court District of Connecticut

U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York

U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court Northern District of New York

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Read Less

Languages

English