Bernette Joshua Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernette Johnson
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Johnson in 2017
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| Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court | |
| In office February 1, 2013 – December 31, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Catherine Kimball |
| Succeeded by | John L. Weimer |
| Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from the 7th district |
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| In office October 31, 1994 – December 31, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Piper D. Griffin |
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| Born | June 17, 1943 Donaldsonville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Spelman College (BA) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (JD) |
Bernette Joshua Johnson, born on June 17, 1943, is an American lawyer from New Orleans. She was the top judge, called the chief justice, of the Louisiana Supreme Court from 2013 to 2020.
She was the first African American to hold this important position. She took over from Catherine D. Kimball.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Louisiana
Bernette Johnson was born in 1943 in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. She went to public schools in her hometown. At that time, schools were still separated by race.
College and Law School
She attended Spelman College in Georgia. In 1964, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. After college, she worked for a summer with lawyers who were fighting for school desegregation. This experience inspired her to go to law school.
She then studied law at Louisiana State University. In 1969, she earned her Juris Doctor degree. She was one of the first African-American women to graduate from this law program. While in law school, she also interned at the United States Department of Justice. She helped with cases related to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law aimed to end discrimination.
Career as a Lawyer and Judge
Helping People Through Law
After becoming a lawyer, Bernette Johnson focused on civil rights. She also worked to provide legal help to people who couldn't afford it. From 1969 to 1973, she was a managing attorney at the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation. This organization helped people with legal issues.
Becoming a Judge
In 1984, she was elected as a judge to the Orleans Parish Civil District Court. She was the first woman to serve as a judge in that court. She was re-elected in 1990. By 1994, she became the chief judge of that court.
Joining the Supreme Court
In the late 1980s, a lawsuit was filed about how judges were elected in Louisiana. The lawsuit argued that the system made it harder for African Americans to be elected. This was because voting districts were set up in a way that reduced the power of their votes.
A federal court agreed that the system was unfair. To fix this, a special agreement was made. This agreement created an eighth position on the Louisiana Supreme Court. This new position was meant to ensure fair representation.
In 1994, Bernette Johnson was appointed as the eighth associate justice to the State Supreme Court under this agreement. This was a very important step for fairness in the justice system.
Becoming Chief Justice
In 2000, the state went back to having seven judicial districts for the Supreme Court. Bernette Johnson ran for the reconfigured 7th Supreme Court District and was elected. She was re-elected to this seat in 2010.
In 2012, the position of chief justice was going to become open. According to the Louisiana Constitution, the longest-serving associate justice usually becomes the chief justice. Bernette Johnson had served the longest.
However, another judge also wanted the position. There was a debate about who had more seniority. Bernette Johnson filed a lawsuit to clarify the issue. A federal judge ruled that Bernette Johnson had more seniority. In October 2012, the state Supreme Court members agreed. They decided that Bernette Johnson would become the chief justice.
Bernette Johnson became the first African American to serve as chief justice in Louisiana. She was also the first African-American woman to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court as both an associate justice and chief justice. She retired from her position on December 31, 2020.
See also
- List of female state supreme court justices
- List of African-American jurists
