The Historical Society of the Federal District of Columbia Circuit recently published the oral history of Principal John Cruden (Washington, DC). Conducted over six interviews spanning several years, the series explores John’s childhood, education, military service, and distinguished legal career in the military, government, and private practice. Tracy Scarrow, the Special Assistant to the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, conducted the oral history.

The Society’s Oral History Program preserves the experiences of more than one hundred judges, attorneys, and other prominent figures connected to the courts of the District of Columbia and the broader Washington legal community.

John joined Beveridge & Diamond in 2018 following his service as Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources Division. At DOJ, he oversaw some of the nation’s most significant environmental cases, including litigation stemming from the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Love Canal case. He personally led negotiations that resolved the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Volkswagen emissions scandal—both multi-billion-dollar matters of historic importance. Earlier in his tenure, John served as Chief of Environmental Enforcement, then the DOJ's largest litigation section.

John also became the first individual to lead all three of the nation’s premier environmental legal organizations: President of the Environmental Law Institute, President of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, and Chair of the ABA Section on Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources. He was also the first government lawyer elected to serve as President of the DC Bar.

In the oral history, John also reflects on his 23 years of military service, during which he served in Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces units in Germany and Vietnam. He recounts taking the LSAT while deployed in Vietnam and beginning his career as a military lawyer, ultimately holding a range of leadership positions. His service was recognized with numerous awards, including the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.

The interviews also highlight John’s personal journey, including his time at West Point, meeting his wife, raising his daughters, and, more recently, his dedication to coaching a large Special Olympics swim team and teaching a master’s class at George Washington University.

Find the complete oral history here.