Lee Johnson

Who is Lee Johnson?

Lee Johnson is an Oregon attorney, Republican politician, and retired jurist. He served one term in the Oregon House of Representatives, before being elected twice as the state's Attorney General, and a partial term as Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals, resigning to head Governor Vic Atiyeh's executive staff. He sat as an Oregon Circuit Court Judge for Multnomah County from 1983 until his retirement in 1995.

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.