John William Mauck

John Mauck has been an attorney for over 30 years, representing many churches and ministries in Chicago to provide religious land use in restricted areas of the city. His work drafting the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act which became federal law in 2000 has helped congregations across the country freely worship. 

When John began his legal career litigation was not part of his practice. However, in 1985 a church elder, whom John had never met, came to his office and insisted that God had told him to hire John to represent their church in zoning litigation. At first John was hesitant, but God confirmed what the elder said and John’s practice now includes civil rights litigation and religious liberties. “I like helping to advance the law so that people have more freedom to worship,” he says. In addition to religious zoning work, John also practices real estate law and litigation, not-for-profit law and constitutional law.

In 1998, John was asked to testify before the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Constitution concerning church zoning problems. He was also instrumental in originating parts of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 which has become essential in securing religious liberties for Americans of all faiths. He has written numerous articles on religious land use and given presentations on the subject to city officials and other lawyers.

John has written three books: The Healing of Jabez, Paul on Trial, and Jesus in the Courtroom.