Norma Holloway Johnson

Norma Holloway Johnson (July 28, 1932 – September 18, 2011), born Normalie Loyce Holloway, was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the first African-American woman to serve as Chief Judge of a United States District Court.

Norma Holloway Johnson
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
In office
June 18, 2001  December 31, 2003
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
In office
March 19, 1997  June 18, 2001
Preceded byJohn Garrett Penn
Succeeded byThomas F. Hogan
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
In office
May 12, 1980  June 18, 2001
Appointed byJimmy Carter
Preceded byGeorge Luzerne Hart Jr.
Succeeded byRichard J. Leon
Personal details
Born
Normalie Loyce Holloway

(1932-07-28)July 28, 1932
Lake Charles, Louisiana
DiedSeptember 18, 2011(2011-09-18) (aged 79)
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of the District of Columbia (BS)
Georgetown Law (JD)

Education and career

Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Johnson received a Bachelor of Science degree from District of Columbia Teachers College (now the University of the District of Columbia) in 1955 and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown Law 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 by President Richard Nixon to be a judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court.[1]

Federal judicial service

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 Judge George Luzerne Hart Jr. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 9, 1980, and received her commission on May 12, 1980. 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.[1]

Notable rulings

Johnson ruled on Kenneth Starr's probe of the Clinton administration.[2] She also oversaw the conviction of Rita Lavelle on charges of making false statements, obstruction of a congressional investigation, and perjury and sentenced her to prison.[3]

Death

Johnson died September 18, 2011, at her brother's home in her native Lake Charles, following a stroke.[4]

References

  1. Norma Holloway Johnson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. Cohen, Adam; Viveca Novak (1998-03-16). "The Nonsense Stops Here". TIME. 151 (10): 30. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  3. "Rita Lavelle Sentenced To 6 Months". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1984-01-10. p. 15. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  4. Hevesi, Dennis (21 September 2011). "Norma Holloway Johnson, Judge Who Oversaw Monica Lewinsky Inquiry, Is Dead at 79" via NYTimes.com.

Sources

Legal offices
Preceded by
George Luzerne Hart Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
1980–2001
Succeeded by
Richard J. Leon
Preceded by
John Garrett Penn
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
1997–2001
Succeeded by
Thomas F. Hogan


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.