Norma Holloway Johnson
Norma Johnson | |
---|---|
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
In office March 19, 1997 – June 18, 2001 | |
Preceded by | John Penn |
Succeeded by | Thomas Hogan |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
In office May 12, 1980 – June 18, 2001 | |
Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
Preceded by | George Hart |
Succeeded by | Richard Leon |
Personal details | |
Born |
Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. | July 28, 1932
Died |
September 18, 2011 79) (aged Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater |
University of the District of Columbia Georgetown University |
Norma Holloway Johnson (July 28, 1932 – September 18, 2011), born Normalie Loyce Holloway, was a United States federal judge, and the first African-American woman to serve as a US District Court Chief Judge.
Biography
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, she received a B.S. from District of Columbia Teachers College in 1955 and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1962. She entered private practice in Washington, D.C., and then became a trial attorney at the United States Department of Justice Civil Division from 1963 to 1967. She worked as an assistant corporation counsel (a position later retitled Assistant Attorney General) for the District of Columbia from 1967 to 1970. In 1970, Johnson was appointed to be a judge on the District of Columbia Superior Court. Johnson was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on February 28, 1980, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated by George L. Hart. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 9, 1980, and received her commission on May 12, 1980.
Johnson ruled on Kenneth Starr's probe of the Clinton administration.[1] She also cited Rita Lavelle for contempt of court and sentenced her to prison. She served as chief judge from 1997 until June 18, 2001, when she assumed senior status. Johnson served in that capacity until her retirement on December 31, 2003.
Johnson died Sunday, September 18, 2011, at her brother's home in her native Lake Charles, following a stroke. She was 79 years old.[2]
References
- ↑ Cohen, Adam; Viveca Novak (1998-03-16). "The Nonsense Stops Here". TIME. 151 (N°10): 30. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ↑ New York Times obituary for Norma Holloway Johnson
Sources
- Norma Holloway Johnson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
Legal offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by George Hart |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia 1980–2001 |
Succeeded by Richard Leon |
Preceded by John Penn |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia 1997–2001 |
Succeeded by Thomas Hogan |