Alan Johnson (Wyoming)
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1985 - Present
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Alan Bond Johnson is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. He joined the court in 1985 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan.
Early life and education
Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Johnson graduated from Vanderbilt University with his bachelor's degree in 1961 and from the University of Wyoming with his J.D. in 1964.[1]
Military service
Johnson served in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1967. Since 1973, he has served in the Wyoming Air National Guard.[1]
Professional career
- 1985 - Present: Judge, United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
- 1992-1999: Chief judge
- 1974-1985: Judge, Wyoming District Court
- 1973-1974: Judge, Cheyenne Municipal Court
- 1971-1974: Magistrate judge, District of Wyoming
- 1968-1974: Private practice, Cheyenne, Wyo.[1]
Judicial career
District of Wyoming
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Alan B. Johnson |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Wyoming |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 55 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: October 22, 1985
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 ABA Rating:
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| Questionnaire: |
| Hearing: November 22, 1985
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| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: December 4, 1985
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| Confirmed: December 16, 1985
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| Vote: Voice vote
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Johnson was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming by President Ronald Reagan on October 22, 1985, to a new judgeship created by 98 Stat. 333. Hearings on Johnson's nomination were held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 22, 1985, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) on December 4, 1985. Johnson was confirmed on a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on December 16, 1985, and he received his commission the next day. Johnson served as the chief judge of the court from 1992 to 1999.[1][2]
Noteworthy cases
Johnson strikes down Wyoming law barring political robocalls (2018)
On August 6, 2018, Johnson struck down a Wyoming law that barred the use of automated phone calls (i.e., robocalls) for political purposes. The plaintiffs in the suit, Victory Processing, had argued that the law violated the firm's free speech rights as guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. Wyoming Attorney General Peter Michael (R) had argued that repealing the law would violate the privacy rights of the state's citizens. Grayson found that the law privileged commercial robocalls over political robocalls, allowing the former to occur under circumstances denied to the latter (e.g., state law permitted commercial robocalls if the number dialed did not appear on the national do-not-call list; the same exception did not apply to political robocalls). Johnson also found that protecting the privacy of citizens was a substantial, as opposed to a compelling, state interest, rendering Wyoming's restrictions on political robocalls unconstitutional. In order to serve a compelling interest, states can sometimes enact laws that restrict rights guaranteed by the Constitution if such laws are the only method for serving the compelling interest. At the time the ruling was made, it was unclear whether the state would appeal the decision.[3]
See also
- United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
- United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
External links
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming 1985-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Scott W. Skavdahl • Alan Johnson (Wyoming) • Kelly H. Rankin | ||
| Senior judges | |||
| Magistrate judges | R. Michael Shickich • Teresa McKee • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
William Downes • John Alden Riner • Thomas Blake Kennedy • Ewing Kerr • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
Clarence Brimmer • William Downes • Alan Johnson (Wyoming) • | ||
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Wyoming • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Wyoming
State courts:
Wyoming Supreme Court • Wyoming District Courts • Wyoming Circuit Courts • Wyoming Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Wyoming • Wyoming judicial elections • Judicial selection in Wyoming
