John Kralik was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended grade school there as well as in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, and went on to earn a B.A. (1975) and a J.D. (1979) from the University of Michigan. Kralik practiced law in Los Angeles for 30 years, working at firms including Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Miller Tokuyama, Kralik & Sur, and Kralik & Jacobs, as well as operating his own practice, Kralik & Associates. In September 2009, he was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as a Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He retired in June 2025 after 16 years on the bench. Since retiring, Kralik has focused on writing, completing his divinity degree, and pursuing work as an arbitrator and mediator.


