Retired Pa. Superior Court Judge Justin Johnson dies at 88

Retired Judge Justin Morris Johnson, who served on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, has died. He was 88.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto confirmed the death in a statement.

Mayor Peduto statement on the passing of Judge Justin Johnson pic.twitter.com/2U1aadGHru

— Daniel Gilman (@danielgilman) November 2, 2021

Johnson, of Pittsburgh, had a storied law career and was the second Black judge appointed to the state’s Superior Court in 27 years.

“I had the privilege of getting to know Judge Justin Johnson through his leadership at East Liberty Presbyterian Church while I was a city councilman,” Peduto said. “Together we worked on issues of equity, peace and gun violence with his wife, Florence. I already knew him as a brilliant legal scholar and then got to experience his passion, heart and commitment for the city of Pittsburgh and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Johnson was born Aug. 19, 1933 in Wilkinsburg to Irene and Oliver Johnson.

In 1954, Johnson in received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Chicago. From 1956-59, he served in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft commander and as major from 1963-73. In 1962, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago, according to a biography posted on The History Makers, an online African American oral history project that interviewed Johnson in 2008.

After graduating from law school, Johnson worked for the firm Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, where he eventually became a partner and sole proprietor. After working with the firm for 15 years, Johnson became the assistant solicitor and assistant secretary for the Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh-Mt. Oliver board of education.

He then became a partner at Berkman, Ruslander, Pohl, Liber & Engel from 1978-80.

In 1980, Johnson was appointed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court where eventually served as a senior judge.

While on the bench, Johnson worked as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University Law School.

Johnson previously served on the board of trustees for Mercy Hospital, Southside Hospital, United Way of Allegheny Company and Princeton Theological Seminary. He was also a life trustee of Carnegie Mellon University and was chairman of the Pennsylvania Board of Examiners from 1983-89.

He received several awards including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Citizen’s Award; the Top Hat Award for distinguished judicial services: the Homer S. Brown Service Award, the Presidents Award by the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association; the Award of Merit by the Pittsburgh Young Adult Club and the Man of the Year Award from Bethesda Presbyterian Church.

Johnson had three children and lived in Pittsburgh with his wife, Florence.