Justice & Court Reform
As the former chair and now ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, Congressman Johnson is the leading voice in the House on court reform -- particularly the Supreme Court. Even before the 6-3 right-wing supermajority took control of the court, Rep. Johnson proposed legislation to expand the Supreme Court (Judiciary Act); require that the justices follow a code of ethics, transparency, and recusal standards (SCERT Act); and establish term limits for justices (TERM Act). Rep. Johnson has also introduced legislation to ensure that employees of the federal judiciary have strong statutory rights and protections against discrimination and workplace misconduct (JAA).
For more on the Congressman’s work on court reform, please read below.
More on Justice & Court Reform
DECATUR, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) issued the following statement on the death of friend, colleague and civil rights giant Rep. John Lewis:
"Rep. John Lewis was a giant of a man. Never angry or puffed up with self importance, he was a humble servant who loved humanity. And we loved him back. Thank you, John Lewis for your contribution to the cause of love and peace. I will follow your example."
On TV:
7-18-20: CNN: Rep. Johnson Pays Tribute to Rep. Lewis on CNN.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), along with other Congressional leaders, today re-introduced the Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act, which would ensure that death row inmates have the opportunity to present newly discovered evidence of innocence.
Under current law, an inmate on death row can be stranded with no procedural options to stop their execution, even when there is compelling new evidence that he or she is innocent.
The Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act would:
Congressman files legislation that allows death row inmates the ability to introduce new evidence
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), along with other Congressional leaders, today re-introduced the Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act, which would ensure that death row inmates have the opportunity to present newly discovered evidence of innocence.
Under current law, an inmate on death row can be stranded with no procedural options to stop their execution, even when there is compelling new evidence that he or she is innocent.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced his support of H.R. 51 – a bill admitting the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, named in honor of the great American statesman and nation's foremost abolitionist Frederick Douglass, into the Union as the 51st state and give it voting representation in the Congress and full local self-government.
Watch Rep. Johnson's floor speech HERE
The bill was introduced by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and has 227 cosponsors.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced his support of H.R. 51 – a bill admitting the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, named in honor of the great American statesman and nation's foremost abolitionist Frederick Douglass, into the Union as the 51st state and give it voting representation in the Congress and full local self-government.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mr./Madame Speaker, I rise in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act because BLACK. LIVES. MATTER.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/GB_f78FW_nE
Police killed George Floyd over a counterfeit $20 dollar bill, as if his life didn't matter. Police in Atlanta, Georgia, killed Rayshard Brooks for running away — as if his life didn't matter.
Chairman Johnson of the Courts Subcommittee Explores How the Federal Courts Have Operated During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices, Opportunities for Innovation, and Lessons for the Future
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) chaired his Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet's hearing on the Federal Courts During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices, Opportunities for Innovation, and Lessons for the Future.
House Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet
Hearing on "Federal Courts During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices, Opportunities for Innovation, and Lessons for the Future"
June 25, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Congressman: This is not what fair administration of justice looks like. Investigations must be opened based on facts, not political vendettas
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of the Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department of Justice: Political Interference and Threats to Prosecutorial Independence, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) exposes a disturbing pattern of abuse of power within the Administration during his questioning of John W. Elias, trial attorney, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice.