This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  "Sterling Johnson Jr." –  news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Sterling Johnson Jr.
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
In office June 1, 2003 – October 10, 2022
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
In office July 2, 1991 – June 1, 2003
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Joseph M. McLaughlin
Succeeded by	Sandra L. Townes
Personal details
Born	(1934-05-14)May 14, 1934 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	October 10, 2022(2022-10-10) (aged 88) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Education	Brooklyn College ( BA) Brooklyn Law School ( LLB)

Sterling Johnson Jr. (May 14, 1934 – October 10, 2022) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Before his appointment to the bench in 1991, Johnson was an attorney for 25 years, specializing in drug enforcement and the prosecution of narcotics cases. As Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, he supervised assistant district attorneys and investigators responsible for the preparation and prosecution of more than 7,000 criminal cases. He has been a guest lecturer at many American universities and law schools, as well as in various countries.

Education and career

This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources:  "Sterling Johnson Jr." –  news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2020)

Johnson was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Laws from Brooklyn Law School in 1966. He was in the United States Marine Corps from 1952 to 1955.

Johnson was a police officer of the New York City Police Department from 1956 to 1967. He was an Assistant United States Attorney of the Southern District of New York from 1967 to 1970. He was the executive director of the Civilian Complaint Review Board of the New York City Police Department from 1970 to 1974. He was an executive liaison officer of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration from 1974 to 1975. He was a special narcotics prosecutor for New York City from 1975 to 1991. He was a Commissioner of the United States Sentencing Commission from 1999 to 2003. ^[1]

Federal judicial service

Johnson was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on May 17, 1991, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York vacated by Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 27, 1991, and received commission on July 2, 1991. He assumed senior status on June 1, 2003. ^[1] Johnson died on October 10, 2022, aged 88. ^[2]

Other service

Johnson was a founding member of NOBLE, a national organization of African American police officers.^{[ citation needed]}

See also

• List of African-American federal judges
• List of African-American jurists

References

External links

• Sterling Johnson Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Official biography
• NOBLE National "Founding Members of NOBLE". Archived from the original on June 12, 2007.