John Newton

John Newton

Assistant Chief Counsel – Southern Division

Newton started at ABC in 2015 as an Attorney in the Southern Division office. He was promoted to Attorney III in 2016, and then to Attorney IV in 2019. Newton was promoted to the Southern Division Assistant Chief Counsel position in 2021.

Since 2015, Newton has established himself as a subject matter expert in alcohol law, assisting with the Department’s most complex enforcement cases, including spearheading ABC’s efforts to aid local law enforcement with addressing premises that drain local resources. The Department has been routinely lauded by police departments around California for his contributions to reducing crime and use-of-force incidents by working with licensees, local officials, and police departments. Newton also regularly represents the Department in complex tied-house issues and advises on difficult licensing matters.

Prior to joining ABC, Newton served as a United States Air Force Assistant Staff Judge Advocate where he prosecuted criminal offenses committed by military members and advised unit commanders on various legal topics. Newton also deployed to Bagram Army Airfield, Afghanistan during his active-duty time. Prior to college, he served five years as an enlisted United States Marine, where he deployed to the Middle East and Japan.

Newton holds a Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine and a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University’s Caruso School of Law.