Clifton Johnson (jurist) facts for kids

Clifton Earl Johnson was an important American judge from North Carolina. He was born in Williamston, North Carolina, on December 9, 1941, and passed away on June 25, 2009. He served as a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals from 1982 to 1996.

A Pioneer in Law

Clifton Earl Johnson made history many times in his career. He studied at North Carolina Central University and also went to its law school.

Breaking Barriers in North Carolina

Johnson was the first African-American person to serve as a judge in a North Carolina District Court. He was also the first African-American to be the chief judge of a district. This happened in Mecklenburg County.

In 1978, he became the first African-American to be elected as a superior court judge in North Carolina since the time of Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a period after the American Civil War.

Serving on the Court of Appeals

In 1982, Governor Jim Hunt chose Johnson to join the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Later that same year, people across the state voted for him, and he won the election. He was elected again in 1990.

Johnson retired from the court in 1996. At that time, he was the senior associate judge, meaning he had served there longer than most other judges. After retiring, he continued to work as a special emergency superior court judge. He served in this role until he passed away suddenly in 2009 while at a meeting for judges.

See also

• List of African-American jurists
• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in New York