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John P. Krill, Jr.

Of Counsel
Harrisburg
+1.717.231.4505
Fax +1.717.231.4501

Primary Practice

Secondary Practices

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School
  • B.A., Lawrence University, (Classics; Phi Beta Kappa)

Admissions

  • Bar of Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • Biography Overview
  • Additional Background
  • Representative Work
Mr. Krill has extensive experience in complex litigation in appellate, constitutional, administrative and environmental law.  He has been lead counsel in numerous cases in various jurisdictions and has represented clients in both state and federal appellate courts. 

Professional Background

Before joining K&L Gates, Mr. Krill was Acting Secretary of Environmental Resources for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. Krill also served as Executive Deputy General Counsel for the Commonwealth, providing legal advice to the governor and cabinet and supervising agency chief counsel. Mr. Krill served for four years as Deputy General Counsel in charge of Commonwealth executive agency litigation and, earlier, as a Special Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth’s statewide investigative grand jury.

Achievements

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America – 2006 - 2012
  • Selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers by Philadelphia Magazine – 2006 - 2012
  • Argued successfully before a special panel of judges from the 2nd, 7th and 10th Circuits, for affirming dismissal of civil rights action alleging that members of all three branches of state government conspired to fix cases in exchange for legislation.   Common Cause and League of Women Voters v. Commonwealth, 558 F.3d 249 (3d Cir 2009). 
  • Obtained a unanimous reversal from a state supreme court in a case of first impression challenging the governor's use of the line-item veto.  The decision of the supreme court overturned a unanimous decision of an intermediate appeals court.  Jubelirer v. Rendell, 953 A.2d 514 (Pa. 2008).
  • Obtained reversal of an administrative hearing board order that mandated action by a state environmental agency against a permittee.  The appeals court held that the order “offends basic principles of equity and due process.” Delaware Valley Concrete Company v. Schneiderwind, 867A.2d724 (2005). 
  • Prevailed against a constitutional attack on legislation authorizing slot-machine gambling at racetracks and “racinos.”  Issues included challenges to legislative procedure under constitutional provisions found in many state constitutions. Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion v. Commonwealth, 583  Pa. 275 (2005).
  • Successfully defended a state congressional redistricting plan before the U.S Supreme Court, against allegations that it was an extreme partisan gerrymander that violated the U.S. Constitution: Vieth v. Jubelirer, 124 S. Ct. 1769 (2004).
  • Was also lead defense counsel in the trial of that redistricting case before a three-judge district court and in trial of a companion case before the state courts, Erfer v. Commonwealth, 794 A.2d 325 (2002), where both cases involved cross-examination of experts on complex statistical issues.
  • In a case involving federal environmental regulation, obtained a reversal by the U.S. Supreme Court of a fee award multiplier, setting a precedent for moderating lawyers’ fee awards in civil rights as well as environmental cases: Pennsylvania v. Delaware Valley Citizens’ Council for Clean Air, 107 S.Ct. 3078 (1987).
  • Challenged amendments to the Federal Aviation Act governing the siting of landfills, obtaining a federal court judgment that the amendments violated the right of a company to equal protection of the law: Khodara Environmental, Inc. v. Beckman, 91 F. Supp. 2d 827 (W.D. Pa. 1999), vacated for mootness after amendment of the statute, 237 F.3d 186 (CA 3, 2001).
  • Defended a state system of education funding against both state and federal lawsuits challenging disparity of resources and succeeded in preventing judicial supervision of the system, contrary to the trend in many states: Marrero v. Commonwealth, 757 A.2d 917 (2000) and Powell v. Ridge, 189 F3d 387 (CA 3 1999).
  • Has represented amici curiae before the U.S. Supreme Court and in the circuit courts in cases where an adverse decision would affect pending litigation below, e.g. in Alexander v. Sandoval, 121 S.Ct. 1511 (2001) (holding that agency regulations did not create a private right of action).
  • In a suit by the United States under CERCLA, he secured the right to judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act of an administrative order and an agency remedy selection, overcoming the statutory bar to review asserted by the government:  United States v. Keystone Sanitation, 867 F. Supp. 275 (M.D. Pa. 1994).
  • In a civil rights case involving election fraud and constitutional violations, Mr. Krill’s representation of the prevailing party was recognized in a federal district court opinion for “exemplary” examination and cross-examination of expert witnesses at trial on statistical issues:  Marks v. Stinson, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9897 (E.D. Pa.), affirmed with enhanced fee award (CA 3, unpublished opinion).
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