John W. Darrah (born 1938) is a United States federal judge.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Darrah received a B.S. from Loyola University in 1965 and a J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in 1969. He was an attorney advisor for the Federal Trade Commission from 1969 to 1971. He was a deputy public defender in the DuPage County Public Defender Office from 1971 to 1973. He was in private practice in Illinois from 1971 to 1973. He also began teaching as an adjunct professor in the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1972. He was an Assistant state's attorney of Office of State's Attorney, Illinois from 1973 to 1976. He was in private practice in Illinois from 1976 to 1986. He was a Circuit court judge of the Illinois 18th Judicial Circuit Court from 1986 to 2000.
On May 11, 2000, Darrah was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by George M. Marovich. Darrah was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 30, 2000, and received his commission on July 14, 2000. He also continues to teach as an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School, teaching Evidence and Trial Advocacy.