Judge Shelia Johnson for Michigan Supreme Court

Dedicated To Service, Committed To Justice, Connected To The Community, Champion of Individual Rights
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Judge Johnson's Biography      

 

                                                                                                                                                     

Problems with the Supreme Court_______

 

The prior majority of 4 of the Michigan Supreme Court appears to have lost their “mask” of impartiality and have seemingly systematically succumbed to a political agenda which consistently resulted in rulings that have obliterated established rights of individuals in favor of corporations and insurance companies – in most cases without respect for established case precedent or the intent of the legislature which drafted the laws. 

 

The result has stripped individuals from obtaining relief in a number of scenarios, just to name a few: no recovery for most impairments of the body in no fault auto insurance cases; no recovery  for workplace sexual harassment; no protection for consumer claims against regulated industries (insurance, mortgage, auto dealers/repair, etc.); limiting union rights to organize and bargain; virtually  no recovery in slip and fall cases; limiting time to bring cases even when the identity of the person to sue is unknown.

 

Meet the solution - Judge Johnson________

 

Judge Johnson has worked from both vantage points: as a trial judge within the court system and in private practice, as a lawyer defending the rights of the people in the community. Judge Johnson is connected to the community and she has not lost sight of the value of common sense or “real  world” concerns. She has an insightful knowledge of the law balanced with an understanding of the experiences, needs and expectations of fairness of the litigants of the community.  Judge Johnson has presided over cases with that rare mixture of intellect, compassion, firmness and fortitude that make her an excellent candidate for Justice of  the Michigan Supreme Court.  She knows what's fair and she does what's right under the law. Nominate “Johnson for Justice” to bring this fresh persona, sound legal reasoning and a real world perspective to the Supreme Court.

 Experienced Trial  Judge  and   Lawyer____________________________________

 

•Chief Judge Pro Tem, 46th District Court (serving the communities of Southfield, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills, Franklin and Southfield Township)

•Two term District Judge

•18 years private practice, civil and criminal litigation

•U.S. District Court Law Clerk

•Visiting law clerk at U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals

 

Outstanding  Intetllectual Background____________

 

•Graduate, University of Michigan Law School

•Elected first African American President of Law School Student Senate

• Law School graduation speaker

•Graduate of Dartmouth College, academic distinction

•Graduate, Kingswood School Cranbrook (now known as Cranbrook Kingswood).

 

A Vision based upon Core Values on which our Democratic Society is based____________________

 

• To bring a fresh, judicially independent, fair, balanced, common sense and legally sound perspective to the court with sensitivity to community values and individual rights.                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         

                         

Memberships and Affiliations (partial listing)__________
 

•Immediate Past President, Association of Black Judges of Michigan

•Current Board Member, Judicial Council of the National Bar Association

•Past Board Member and Vice President, National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ)

•Member, Michigan District Judges Association (former nominating committee member)

•Member, Wolverine Bar Association

•Member, D. Augustus Straker Bar Association

•Member Oakland County District Judges Association

•Member Women Lawyer’s Association of Michigan

•Elected Fellow, State Bar of Michigan

•Elected Fellow, Oakland County Bar Association

•Member, Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force, Inc. (committee chair)

•Member and former Board Member, Southern Oakland County NAACP

•Founding Member, Women's Fund, Southfield Community Foundation

•Member Hope United Methodist Church (past Chair, Church and Society Ministry)

•Member, Southfield Lathrup Village Democratic Club

•Member, Oakland County Democratic Club

• Member Michigan Democratic Party

 

Advocate for Equality and Justice Under  the Law___________________________________________

 

•Recipient of the NAWJ Mattie Belle Davis Award, 2009 (for support of women in the law and the judiciary)

•Recipient Southern Oakland County NAACP Member of the Year Award, 2006 for work in support of the mission of the NAACP

•Member, Equal Access to Justice Initiative of the Committee on Justice Initiatives of the State Bar

•Prior participant in Oakland Livingston Legal Aid Pro Bono Program, providing legal services to indigent persons

 

 

Other Community Awards & Recognition____________

 

•2008 Powerful Woman of Purpose Award from the Rhonda Walker Foundation (for professional achievement in the legal field and for commitment to community service)

•2005 Torch Award from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Southfield Alumnae Chapter (for outstanding legal leadership and community service)

•2005 Native Detroiter Magazine award (for outstanding community service)

• Recognized in "Black Judges in America," 2005, 2007

•Recognized in "Who's Who in Black Detroit", 2007-2010

 

 

Proven Electability – A Tested & Experienced Trailblazer____________________________________

 

•Capable of running and winning a grass roots campaign in a multi-cultural diverse area

•Defeated 17 year incumbent Chief Judge on first attempt, despite being out spent 5:1

•Elected first African American judge in District

•First African American female district judge in Oakland County

• First African American female judge elected first term, NOT appointed,  in Oakland County

•Can maintain the position once elected - ran unopposed for  her 2nd term

•Capable of obtaining committed community support in order to WIN – attracted approximately 200 unpaid volunteers on election day.