Frank Minis Johnson
1918–1999 (age 81)
federal judge
Biography
Federal Judge Frank Minis Johnson accepted assignments in the Deep South at a time of fierce resistance to civil rights, issuing rulings that upheld constitutional protections for African Americans, prisoners, and other marginalized groups.
He bore threats with quiet dignity, letting the law and his conscience guide him, and his decisions helped dismantle segregation while inspiring future jurists to defend liberty.