John N. Ellem is a life-long resident of Wood County, West Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Wheeling Jesuit University (magna cum laude) and his law degree from the WVU College of Law in 1992. In July of 2000, after working 8 years as a litigation associate for a mid-sized firm, he opened Ellem Law Office, PLLC where his focus has been representing consumers in WV and OH in a variety of matters including lemon law, debt collection abuse, fair credit reporting violations as well as personal injury. He also offers governmental relations services and is involved in human rights work as President of Human Rights for Kids. Mr. Ellem is no longer accepting new cases and is winding down his private practice.Mr. Ellem served 14 years (2001-2014) as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates representing the 10th District. During his career in the Legislature, he served as Minority Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He was a member of the Legislature’s Joint Commission on Special Investigations and served on the House Committee on Redistricting. Prior to becoming a legislator, Mr. Ellem served as a member of the WV Ethics Commission.Mr. Ellem is a member of the West Virginia and Ohio State Bar, the West Virginia Association for Justice, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. He has served on the boards of the Wood County Senior Citizens Assoc., the ARC and Project Yoga MOV, Inc. Along with his wife Sherry and daughter Sara, he enjoys biking, hiking and fly-fishing. He enjoys an active yoga practice and is a registered yoga teacher (RYT) through Yoga Alliance. He currently teaches yoga at the Parkersburg YMCA and in Snowshoe, WV. He taught prison yoga prior to the Covid pandemic.