Frank Minis Johnson

American judge and civil rights advocate

Frank Minis Johnson (October 30, 1918 – July 23, 1999) was a United States Federal Judge who made landmark rulings that helped end segregation in the South. His decisions were instrumental in shaping the civil rights movement in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Frank Minis Johnson was born in Haleyville, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1942. Johnson then went on to receive his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1943.

Military Service

During World War II, Johnson served in the United States Army as an infantry lieutenant. He participated in the D-Day invasion and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service.

Judicial Career

In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Johnson to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. As a federal judge, Johnson made several key rulings that advanced civil rights.

Key Rulings

• Browder v. Gayle (1956): Johnson ruled that the segregation of buses in Montgomery, Alabama was unconstitutional, effectively ending the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
• Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960): This case challenged the redrawing of Tuskegee, Alabama's city boundaries to disenfranchise African American voters. Johnson's ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States.
• United States v. Alabama (1961): Johnson ordered the desegregation of public schools in Alabama.

Later Career and Legacy

In 1979, Johnson was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by President Jimmy Carter. He later served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit after its creation in 1981.

Johnson's rulings were often controversial and he faced significant opposition, including threats to his life. Despite this, he remained committed to the principles of justice and equality.

Death and Honors

Frank Minis Johnson passed away on July 23, 1999. He is remembered as a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement. The Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama, is named in his honor.

Related pages

• Civil Rights Movement
• Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Voting Rights Act of 1965

Frank Minis Johnson