John Somerville was born in Birmingham, 1962, and he was admitted to practice in Alabama in 1992. He received his J.D. in 1991 from The University of Alabama School of Law, and his B.A. in 1985 from the University of the South. He was a Hugo Black Scholar recipient, and was awarded the Dean Thomas W. Christopher Award. He was editor in chief of The Alabama Law Review, law clerk to Senior U.S. District Court Judge Seybourn H. Lynne, Northern District of Alabama, 1991-1993, and adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy, University of Alabama School of Law, 1997-2000. He was a speechwriter to U.S. Senator Howell T. Heflin, 1986-1988.