Frank Minis Johnson
Encyclopedia
Frank Minis Johnson, Jr. (October 30, 1918 July 23, 1999) was a United States Federal judge
, made a number of landmark civil rights rulings that helped end segregation in the South. In the words of journalist and historian Bill Moyers
, Judge Johnson "altered forever the face of the South."
and the University of Alabama School of Law
(one of Johnson's classmates was future Governor George C. Wallace
, who would be Johnson's bête noire
in the civil rights litigation of the 1960s), Johnson served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II
, while his wife, Ruth (also a classmate from the University of Alabama
) served in the WAVES
as an advisor to Hollywood filmmakers. After military service, Johnson entered private law practice in Jasper, Alabama
from 1946 to 1953. He was a delegate from Alabama to the 1948 Republican National Convention
, and served as a U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, 1953-55.
asked Johnson to become FBI
Director when Director Clarence M. Kelley
stepped down. However the day after Carter nominated him, Johnson was found to have an aneurysm
, or abnormal swelling, of his abdominal aorta, and later had to withdraw from the nomination.
Orders the racial integration of the public transportation system of the city of Montgomery, Alabama
.
Invalidated a plan by the city of Tuskegee, Alabama
to dilute black voting strength by redrawing city boundaries so as to move concentrations of black voters out of the city limits.
Ordered that black persons be registered to vote if their application papers were equal to the performance of the least qualified white applicant accepted on the voting rolls.
Required desegregation of the bus depots of the city of Montgomery.
Ordered the city of Montgomery to surrender its voting registration records to the US Department of Justice.
Required the state of Alabama to reapportion state legislative districts to adhere to the 'one man, one vote' principle.
Mandated, in Alabama, the first statewide desegregation of public schools.
Ordered Gov. George Wallace
to permit the Selma to Montgomery march
, which were organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
, to take place.
Ruled that the state of Alabama must permit Blacks to serve on juries.
Declared the Alabama poll tax
unconstitutional.
Ordered the desegregation of the Montgomery chapter of the YMCA
.
Upheld that existing U.S. law superseded customary international law
.
Required the state of Alabama to hire one Black state trooper for every white state trooper until racial parity was achieved.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
, made a number of landmark civil rights rulings that helped end segregation in the South. In the words of journalist and historian Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers is an American journalist and public commentator. He served as White House Press Secretary in the United States President Lyndon B. Johnson Administration from 1965 to 1967. He worked as a news commentator on television for ten years. Moyers has had an extensive involvement with public...
, Judge Johnson "altered forever the face of the South."
Biography
An alumnus of the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
and the University of Alabama School of Law
University of Alabama School of Law
The University of Alabama School of Law located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a nationally ranked top-tier law school and the only public law school in the state. In total, it is one of five law schools in the state, and one of three that are ABA accredited.The diverse student body, of approximately...
(one of Johnson's classmates was future Governor George C. Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
, who would be Johnson's bête noire
Bête noire
Bête noire may refer to:* Bête Noire , an album by British singer Bryan Ferry, released on Virgin Records in November 1987* Bête Noire , a comic anthology* La Bête Noire , a comic book...
in the civil rights litigation of the 1960s), Johnson served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, while his wife, Ruth (also a classmate from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
) served in the WAVES
WAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
as an advisor to Hollywood filmmakers. After military service, Johnson entered private law practice in Jasper, Alabama
Jasper, Alabama
Jasper is a city in Walker County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 14,659. As of 2011 the population had was 13,857. The city is the county seat of Walker County, and once ranked among the world's leading producers of coal....
from 1946 to 1953. He was a delegate from Alabama to the 1948 Republican National Convention
1948 Republican National Convention
The 1948 Republican National Convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 21 to 25, 1948.New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey had paved the way to win the Republican presidential nomination in the primary elections, where he had beaten Minnesota Governor...
, and served as a U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, 1953-55.
Federal Judicial Service
- Judge of U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, 1955–1979;
- Received a recess appointmentRecess appointmentA recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Dwight EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
on October 22, 1955, to a seat vacated by Charles B. Kennamer; nominated on January 12, 1956; Confirmed by the United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on January 31, 1956, and received his commission on February 1, 1956. Served as chief judge, 1966-1979. Service terminated on July 12, 1979, due to his next judicial appointment.
- Judge of United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
, 1979–1981;
- Nominated by President Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
on April 2, 1979, to a new seat; Confirmed by the Senate on June 19, 1979, and received his commission on June 21, 1979. Service terminated on October 1, 1981, due to assignment to another court.
- Judge of United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
1981-1999;
- Reassigned October 1, 1981; Assumed senior statusSenior statusSenior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on October 30, 1991. He was succeeded on the bench by Edward Earl CarnesEdward Earl CarnesEdward Earl Carnes is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.- Background :Carnes received his B.S. from the University of Alabama in 1972. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1975...
. Service terminated on July 23, 1999, upon his death.
FBI Nomination
In 1977 President Carter and Attorney General Griffin BellGriffin Bell
Griffin Boyette Bell was an American lawyer and former Attorney General. He served as the nation's 72nd Attorney General during the Jimmy Carter administration...
asked Johnson to become FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
Director when Director Clarence M. Kelley
Clarence M. Kelley
Clarence M. Kelley was a public servant who served as the 2nd Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation....
stepped down. However the day after Carter nominated him, Johnson was found to have an aneurysm
Aneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
, or abnormal swelling, of his abdominal aorta, and later had to withdraw from the nomination.
Notable Decisions
- Browder v. GayleBrowder v. GayleBrowder v. Gayle, 142 F. Supp. 707 , was a case heard before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on Montgomery bus segregation laws...
(1956)
Orders the racial integration of the public transportation system of the city of Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
.
- Gomillion v. LightfootGomillion v. LightfootGomillion v. Lightfoot, 364 U.S. 339 , was a United States Supreme Court decision that found an electoral district created to disenfranchise blacks violated the Fifteenth Amendment.- Decision :...
(1961)
Invalidated a plan by the city of Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
to dilute black voting strength by redrawing city boundaries so as to move concentrations of black voters out of the city limits.
- United States v. Alabama (1961)
Ordered that black persons be registered to vote if their application papers were equal to the performance of the least qualified white applicant accepted on the voting rolls.
- Lewis v. Greyhound (1961)
Required desegregation of the bus depots of the city of Montgomery.
- United States v. City of Montgomery (1961)
Ordered the city of Montgomery to surrender its voting registration records to the US Department of Justice.
- Sims v. Frink (1962)
Required the state of Alabama to reapportion state legislative districts to adhere to the 'one man, one vote' principle.
- Lee v. Macon County Board of Ed. (1963)
Mandated, in Alabama, the first statewide desegregation of public schools.
- Williams v. Wallace (1965)
Ordered Gov. George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
to permit the Selma to Montgomery march
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
, which were organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
, to take place.
- White v. Crook (1966)
Ruled that the state of Alabama must permit Blacks to serve on juries.
- United States v. Alabama (1966)
Declared the Alabama poll tax
Poll tax
A poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
unconstitutional.
- Smith v. YMCA of Montgomery (1970)
Ordered the desegregation of the Montgomery chapter of the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
.
- Garcia-Mir v. MeeseGarcia-Mir v. MeeseGarcia-Mir v. Meese, 788 F.2d 1446 , was a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which ruled that the United States could detain indefinitely Cuban refugees who had arrived during the Mariel boatlift....
(1986)
Upheld that existing U.S. law superseded customary international law
Customary international law
Customary international law are those aspects of international law that derive from custom. Along with general principles of law and treaties, custom is considered by the International Court of Justice, jurists, the United Nations, and its member states to be among the primary sources of...
.
- NAACPNational Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
v. Dothard
Required the state of Alabama to hire one Black state trooper for every white state trooper until racial parity was achieved.