John S. Arrowood was born on November 4, 1956 in Burnsville, North Carolina, a son of the late Francis John and Margie Towe Arrowood. He lived in rural Yancey County until his parents died near the close of his freshman year in high school. In 1972, he moved to Lenoir, North Carolina to live with his brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Margie Wheeler Arrowood, and his niece Melissa. He graduated with honors from Hudson High School, Hudson, North Carolina in 1975.

In 1979, Arrowood earned his Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude from Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina where he was awarded the Whitener Award as one of the two most outstanding members of the Class of 1979. He earned his Juris Doctorate in 1982 from the University of North Carolina and was admitted to the Bar that same year.

Arrowood served as a Research Assistant to the Honorable Gerald Arnold on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and served as a Staff Attorney and Staff Director for the Court. In 1989, John was awarded the Outstanding Young Lawyer award by the North Carolina Bar Association for service to the Young Lawyers Division of the Association.

On May 1, 1989, Arrowood joined the law firm of James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A. In 1992 he became a partner, and until his appointment to the bench was engaged in a practice involving complex commercial litigation. In addition to his State Court practice, he is admitted to practice in various Federal Courts including the United States Supreme Court.

Judge Arrowood previously served as a Special Superior Court Judge presiding over civil and criminal courts across the state.

Judge Arrowood has served on numerous state boards and commissions including the North Carolina Railroad Board of Directors, the North Carolina Arts Council, the North Carolina Banking Commission, and the North Carolina Rules Review Commission. He has also been involved in the civic and religious life in the Charlotte community, serving on the Mint Museums Board of Directors and the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Center for Urban Ministries. He is a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where he currently serves as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention for the Dioceses of North Carolina.