Lee Johnson (Oregon judge) explained

Lee Johnson
Office:9th Oregon Attorney General
Termstart:May 20, 1969
Termend:January 3, 1977
Governor:Tom McCall
Robert W. Straub
Predecessor:Robert Y. Thornton
Successor:James A. Redden
Office2:Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals
Termstart2:1979
Termend2:1980
Predecessor2:William S. Fort
Successor2:J. R. Campbell
Birth Date:8 September 1930
Birth Place:Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Death Place:Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Party:Republican

Robertson Lee Johnson (September 8, 1930  - November 15, 2009)[1] was an American attorney, Republican politician, and jurist. He served one term in the Oregon House of Representatives (1966–1968),[2] before being elected twice as the state's Attorney General (May 20, 1969 – Jan. 3, 1977),[3] and a partial term as Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals(1977–78),[4] resigning to head Governor Vic Atiyeh's executive staff.[2] He sat as an Oregon Circuit Court Judge for Multnomah County from 1983 until his retirement in 1995.[2]

Johnson's 1968 election as Oregon Attorney General was challenged in the courts by his opponent, incumbent Robert Y. Thornton, who accused Johnson of violating the state's Corrupt Practices Act. The election results were overturned by a Marion County court, but the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the decision. Johnson's inauguration was delayed nearly six months pending the decision, while Thornton remained in office.[5]

Robertson retired to a ranch in Palm Springs, California, where he died of heart disease in 2009.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Ralph+M.+Holman+oregon#sclient=psy&hl=en&tbs=bks:1&q=Lee+Johnson+Oregon+appeals+born&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=cf297c387f48b1e7
  2. News: Landauer . Robert . Lee Johnson's career leaves many monuments. The Oregonian . F3 . December 24, 1995.
  3. Web site: Oregon Department of Justice - Agency History . Oregon Blue Book (Online) . Oregon Secretary of State . 1995 . 2006-12-08.
  4. Web site: Kestenbaum . Lawrence . Index to Politicians: Johnson, K to N . Political Graveyard . Lawrence Kestenbaum . 2006 . 2006-12-08.
  5. Web site: In memoriam: Robert Y. Thornton . Oregon State Bar Bulletin (Online) . Oregon State Bar . January 2001. 2006-12-08.
  6. Web site: Robertson Lee Johnson '53. Princeton Alumni Weekly. April 28, 2010. February 21, 2021.