Robert T. Johnson (lawyer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert T. Johnson
Justice of the New York Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2016
Bronx County District Attorney
In office January 1, 1989 – December 31, 2015
Preceded by	Paul Gentile
Succeeded by	Darcel Clark
Personal details
Born	Robert Thomas Johnson 1948 (age 76–77) The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	City College of New York BA) New York University (JD)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy

Robert Thomas Johnson (born in 1948) is an American lawyer and judge. He currently serves as a justice on the New York State Supreme Court in the Bronx. Before this, he was a judge in the New York City Criminal Court. He also served as the District Attorney for the Bronx for a long time.

Early Life and School

Johnson was born in the Bronx, a part of New York City. He grew up in the Amsterdam Houses, which are public housing buildings in Manhattan. He went to James Monroe High School.

In 1968, he joined the United States Navy. After his military service, he attended the City College of New York. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from there. In 1975, he graduated from the New York University School of Law.

Starting His Law Career

After finishing law school, Johnson began working as a defense attorney. He worked for the Legal Aid Society, which helps people who cannot afford a lawyer.

In 1978, he became a prosecutor in the Bronx County District Attorney's office. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. Their job is to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes. .....

In 1986, Mayor Edward Koch appointed Johnson as a judge. He became a judge in the New York City Criminal Court. Later, he served as an acting justice for the New York State Supreme Court.

Serving as Bronx District Attorney

In 1988, Robert Johnson ran for the position of Bronx County District Attorney. He won the primary election for the Democratic Party. He was then elected without anyone running against him. This made him the first African-American to be elected as a district attorney in New York State. He was re-elected six times, often without facing any opponents.

In 2005, he became the longest-serving Bronx County District Attorney.

Johnson's work as district attorney sometimes received criticism. Judges noted that his office had a high number of cases that were not prosecuted. By the end of his time, Bronx prosecutors were winning jury trials less than half the time. This rate was much lower than in other parts of New York City. His office also had many dismissed cases and a large backlog. This backlog affected both people accused of crimes and victims.

Important Cases During His Time

During his time as District Attorney, Johnson's office handled many important cases. Here are some examples:

• The conviction of Franklin Beauchamp was overturned. He was a former teacher found guilty of abusing children. The court said the District Attorney's Office had made a mistake in the legal paperwork.
• Larry Davis was found not guilty. He had been accused of shooting six New York City police officers.
• Anthony Rivers was found not guilty. He was accused of killing Officer Vincent Guidice while the officer was on duty.
• Officer Francis Livoti was found not guilty. He was charged with the death of Anthony Baez.
• Amir Tawfiyq Abdullah Aziz was found not guilty. He was accused of trying to kill New York City Police Captain Timothy Galvin.
• Fifteen police officers from the 48th precinct were found not guilty. They were accused of beating Oliver Jones.
• Officer Michael Meyer was found not guilty of attempted murder. He was accused of shooting Antoine Reed.
• Rafael Then was found not guilty. He was accused of hitting a police officer with a stolen car.
• Four New York City police officers were found not guilty. They had shot and killed Amadou Diallo, an unarmed immigrant.
• Charges against Officer Richard Haste were dismissed. He was accused of killing teenager Ramarley Graham. A second grand jury did not bring charges against Officer Haste.
• Ophadell Williams, a bus driver, was found not guilty. He was accused of causing a bus crash that killed fifteen passengers.
• Edwar Garry was wrongly convicted of murder. He was later proven innocent and released from prison.
• Calvin Bauri was wrongly convicted of a double murder. He was kept in prison even after witnesses said they lied. Another witness admitted to being the actual murderer.
• Huwe Burton was wrongly convicted at age sixteen. He spent nineteen years in prison after being forced to falsely confess to his mother's murder.
• Five people were wrongly convicted of murdering taxi driver Baithe Diop in 1995.
• Charges against Kalief Browder were dismissed. He was a teenager wrongly jailed for three years. He was kept in solitary confinement and beaten by prison guards. The only witness left the country, so the case could not go to trial.

Disagreement Over the Death Penalty

In 1996, a New York City police officer was killed in the Bronx. Three men were arrested. Governor George Pataki wanted Johnson to seek the death penalty for one of the accused, Angel Diaz. Johnson was against the death penalty. Governor Pataki threatened to take the case away from Johnson if he refused.

Johnson wanted the time allowed by law to decide. He also said he would go to court if Pataki removed him. The next day, Pataki removed Johnson from the case. He assigned it to Dennis Vacco, the New York State Attorney General. Johnson then sued Pataki to keep the case.

Weeks later, Vacco said he would seek the death penalty. A judge then supported Pataki's decision to remove Johnson. In September 1996, Angel Diaz died in his jail cell. The two other men arrested were later found guilty of murder. In December 1997, a court upheld Pataki's decision to remove Johnson.

Leaving the District Attorney's Office

Around 2013, there were talks about Johnson leaving his role as District Attorney. The idea was that he would become a New York State Supreme Court justice. This plan was reportedly organized by New York State Assemblyman Carl Heastie. Heastie had a lot of influence in the Democratic Party.

Even so, Johnson ran for re-election as District Attorney in 2015. He won the primary election without any opponents. Just one week later, on September 17, Johnson announced he wanted to become a state judge. Many people who support good government criticized this. They said it was a plan by Johnson and party leaders. They believed it was to ensure the party could choose the next District Attorney, not the voters.

After getting the judicial nomination, Johnson resigned from his District Attorney position. Because the primary election had already happened, the political parties chose Johnson's replacement. This meant voters did not get to choose in the primary. Darcel Clark was chosen by the Democratic Party. In the Bronx, which is very Democratic, she won the District Attorney's office easily.

New York Supreme Court Justice

Robert Johnson became a justice on the New York State Supreme Court. His term is set to end in 2030. However, New York law requires judges to retire by the end of the year they turn 70. Johnson turned 70 in 2018. He is eligible to continue serving as a senior status judge. This means he can stay in office for three two-year periods without needing to be re-elected.

Personal Life

Johnson is married to Acting Presiding Justice Dianne T. Renwick. She is also a judge on the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.

Johnson used to live in Fordham, Bronx. In 1994, he moved to a house in the Bronx near Pelham. This house used to belong to Mario Procaccino. Procaccino was a candidate for mayor of New York City.