Jeh Johnson

Jeh Charles Johnson (born 1957) is an American civil and criminal trial lawyer. Johnson is a graduate of Morehouse College and Columbia Law School, and is grandson of noted sociologist and Fisk University president Dr. Charles S. Johnson.

Johnson’s first name (pronounced “Jay”) is taken from a Liberian chief who reportedly saved his grandfather’s life while Dr. Johnson was on a League of Nations mission to Liberia in 1930. [Johnson, Charles S., "Bitter Canaan: The Story of the Negro Republic" Transaction Books (1987), page 1xxiii fn 171]

Career

Johnson served as Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1989-1991. From 1998-2001 he was General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force under President Bill Clinton [http://www.paulweiss.com/lawyers/detail.aspx?attorney=479 Jeh Johnson Biography] Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP. Retrieved on 13 March 2008] . Johnson is currently a partner at the New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and was the first African American to be elected to that firm’s partnership [Lentz, Philip (1996). "Jeh Johnson – 1996 40 Under 40 – Crain’s New York Business Rising Stars". "Crain’s New York Business", Retrieved on 13 March 2008] . He was elected a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2004. In June 2008, Johnson was named to The National Law Journal's list of the "50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America." ["The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America", "The National Law Journal", 2 June 2008]

Federal prosecutor

Johnson began his legal career at Paul, Weiss in the mid-1980s. In 1989 he left to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, a position which he held until 1991. While serving as United States Attorney, Johnson prosecuted public corruption cases.

Air Force General Counsel

Johnson returned to Paul, Weiss in 1992 and was elected partner at the firm in 1994. In 1998, Johnson was appointed General Counsel of the Air Force by President Bill Clinton after confirmation by the U.S. Senate. As General Counsel, Johnson was the senior legal official in the Air Force. His tenure coincided with Operation Allied Force in 1999. He was awarded the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service for his efforts.

Private practice

After his service in the Clinton administration, Johnson returned to Paul, Weiss in 2002, where he is an active trial lawyer of large commercial cases.

Johnson is a member of the Executive Committee of the New York City Bar Association. From 2001 to 2004, he served as chairman of the City Bar’s Judiciary Committee, which rates and approves all federal, state and local judges in New York City.In 2007, Johnson was nominated by the New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination to be Chief Judge of New York [ John Caher, "Kaye Heads List of Candidates For Court of Appeals' Top Slot", "The New York Law Journal", 18 January 2007] though the incumbent, Judith Kaye, was ultimately reappointed by former Governor Eliot Spitzer.

Democratic Party involvement

Johnson is active in Democratic Party politics, as a fundraiser and advisor to presidential campaigns. Johnson served as special counsel to John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign [Konigsberg, Eric, " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE0D7103EF937A15751C0A9619C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 In Clinton’s Backyard, It’s Open Season as an Obama Fund-Raiser Lines Up Donors] ", "The New York Times", 2007-02-24. Retrieved on 13 March 2008.] , and he is currently active in Barack Obama's presidential campaign as a foreign policy advisor and as a member of his national finance committee. [Horowitz, Jason, " [http://www.observer.com/2007/clinton-campaign-gets-gloat-mode-27-million Clinton Campaign Gets In Gloat Mode With $27 Million] ", "The New York Observer", 10 October 2007. Retrieved on 14 April 2008.] [Horowitz,Jason, " [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/04/12/the_best_place_for_the_rule_of_law/ The Best Place for the Rule of Law] ", "The Boston Globe", 12 April 2008. Retrieved on 14 April 2008.]

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