John Stevens Berry Sr.

John Stevens Berry Sr. founded Berry Law in 1965 in Nebraska. With over 60 years of legal practice, his work focuses on criminal defense, white-collar crime, DWI, murder, drug crimes, state and federal felony practice, and veterans appeals.

A Vietnam veteran, Berry served his country and was decorated with the Bronze Star, the Vietnamese Medal of Honor (Gold), the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), and the FBI Award for Service in the Public Interest.

He earned his B.A. in English from Stanford University in 1960 and his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law in 1965.

He is admitted to the Nebraska Bar (1965), the U.S. District Court of Nebraska (1965), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (1970), the U.S. District Court of South Dakota (1973), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1974), the U.S. Tax Court (1975), the U.S. Supreme Court (1979), and the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals (1996).

Berry is a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the Nebraska State and Federal Bar Associations, the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Melvin Belli Society.

He holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating (2020, 2025) and received the Shilling Award from the Baker Street Irregulars.

His notable cases include The Green Beret Affair (a Vietnam military case of national significance) and defending a U.S. Navy sailor in Japan's largest drug bust.