George E. Q. Johnson

Who was George E. Q. Johnson?

George E. Q. Johnson was a U.S. Attorney in Chicago, Illinois who won tax evasion convictions of Al Capone and several of his associates. He briefly served as a United States federal judge.

Born in the unincorporated community of Lanyon, Iowa, Johnson received a B.A. from Tobin College in Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1897 and an LL.B. from Lake Forest College in 1900. He was in private practice in Illinois from 1900 to 1927. He was a Master in Chancery, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois from 1923 to 1927. He was a U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1927 to 1932. During this tenure he was able to famously convict Al Capone for tax evasion. He had earlier won tax evasion convictions of Capone henchmen Ralph Capone, Sam Guzick, and Frank Nitti.

The year after Capone was convicted, Johnson became a federal district court judge. On August 3, 1932, Johnson received a recess appointment from Herbert Hoover to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois created by 46 Stat. 1417. Formally nominated on December 7, 1932, Johnson was not confirmed by the United States Senate, and his service was terminated on March 3, 1933.