Lee Johnson (Oregon judge)

Lee Johnson
9th Oregon Attorney General
In office
May 20, 1969 – January 3, 1977
GovernorTom McCall
Robert W. Straub
Preceded byRobert Y. Thornton
Succeeded byJames A. Redden
Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals
In office
1979–1980
Preceded byWilliam S. Fort
Succeeded byJ. R. Campbell
Personal details
Born(1930-09-08)September 8, 1930
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 2009(2009-11-15) (aged 79)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican

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]

  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. ^ a b c Landauer, Robert (December 24, 1995). "Lee Johnson's career leaves many monuments". The Oregonian. pp. F3.
  3. ^ "Oregon Department of Justice - Agency History". Oregon Blue Book (Online). Oregon Secretary of State. 1995. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  4. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence (2006). "Index to Politicians: Johnson, K to N". Political Graveyard. Lawrence Kestenbaum. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  5. ^ "In memoriam: Robert Y. Thornton". Oregon State Bar Bulletin (Online). Oregon State Bar. January 2001. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  6. ^ "Robertson Lee Johnson '53". Princeton Alumni Weekly. April 28, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2021.