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Norma Holloway Johnson
lawyer · judge · journalist
- July 28, 1932 · Lake Charles
- September 18, 2011 · Lake Charles
- 79 years
- stroke
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About Norma Holloway Johnson
Norma Holloway Johnson, 79, American federal judge, first African American woman to serve as a district court chief judge, stroke.
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Full Biography
|Norma Holloway Johnson (July 28, 1932 – September 18, 2011), born Normalie Loyce Holloway, was a former United States district judge who served as the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and was the first African-American woman to serve as chief judge of that United States district court. Johnson presided over the grand jury investigation into President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Education and career
Johnson was born on July 28, 1932, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Henry and Beatrice Williams Holloway. Johnson received a Bachelor of Science degree from District of Columbia Teachers College (now the University of the District of Columbia) in 1955. Johnson was the first African-American woman graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, and she earned a Juris Doctor in 1962. She entered private practice in Washington, D.C., and then became a trial attorney at the United States Department of Justice Civil Division from 1963 to 1967. She worked as an assistant corporation counsel (a position later retitled Assistant Attorney General) for the District of Columbia from 1967 to 1970. In 1970, Johnson was appointed by President Richard Nixon to be a judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
Federal judicial service
Johnson was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on February 28, 1980, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated by Judge George Luzerne Hart Jr. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 9, 1980, and received her commission on May 12, 1980. She served as chief judge from 1997 until June 18, 2001, when she assumed senior status. Johnson served in that capacity until her retirement on December 31, 2003.
President Clinton grand jury investigation and notable rulings
As the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Washington Post referred to Johnson as a "Key Player" in the 1998 grand jury investigation of President Bill Clinton due to her having to rule on a raft of motions relating to the investigation by independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr.
As chief judge from 1997 to 2001, Johnson oversaw legal issues emanating from grand jury investigations; one of her most demanding assignments came when independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr began investigating President Bill Clinton’s relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Accordingly, Johnson ruled on Kenneth Starr's probe of the Clinton administration. Notably, in 1998, as Starr was attempting to use a grand jury to gather evidence against President Clinton, Johnson ruled that Clinton could not assert a privilege that would have blocked the independent counsel from questioning White House aides. Specifically, Johnson ruled that President Clinton's right to executive privilege was outweighed by Starr's legitimate need for evidence. That decision and others permitted Starr to move ahead with his obstruction of justice inquiry of the president.
Johnson also oversaw the conviction of Rita Lavelle on charges of making false statements, obstruction of a congressional investigation, and perjury and sentenced her to prison.
Additionally, in sentencing former congressman Dan Rostenkowski to 17 months in prison for mail fraud, she told the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in 1996 that “you capriciously pursued a course of personal gain for you, your family and your friends. You have stained them, as well as yourself.”
Death
Johnson died September 18, 2011, at her brother's home in her native Lake Charles, following a stroke.
Family
Through Johnson's mother, Johnson was a first cousin of Rupert Richardson, an African-American civil rights activist and civil rights leader who served as the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1992 to 1995.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
- "Norma Holloway Johnson, who presided over Clinton grand jury probe, dies at 79"washingtonpost.com
- "Norma H. Johnson, 79, Dies; Oversaw Lewinsky Inquiry"nytimes.com
- "Special Report: Clinton Accused Key Player: Norma Holloway Johnson"washingtonpost.com
Reported coverage of Norma Holloway Johnson; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Holloway_Johnson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Norma Holloway Johnson's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was Norma Holloway Johnson's birth name?
- A.Norma Williams Holloway
- B.Norma Richardson Johnson
- C.Normalie Loyce Hollowaycorrect
- D.Norma Beatrice Johnson
Norma Holloway Johnson was born Normalie Loyce Holloway.
Source: Biography introduction
2.In which city was Norma Holloway Johnson born?
- A.Lake Charles, Louisianacorrect
- B.Washington, D.C.
- C.New Orleans, Louisiana
- D.Georgetown, D.C.
Norma Holloway Johnson was born on July 28, 1932, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Source: Education and career section
3.Where did Norma Holloway Johnson receive her Juris Doctor degree in 1962?
- A.Georgetown University Law Centercorrect
- B.District of Columbia Teachers College
- C.Howard University School of Law
- D.Louisiana State University Law Center
Norma Holloway Johnson was the first African-American woman graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned a Juris Doctor in 1962.
Source: Education and career section
4.Who appointed Norma Holloway Johnson to the District of Columbia Superior Court in 1970?
- A.President Bill Clinton
- B.President Ronald Reagan
- C.President Richard Nixoncorrect
- D.President Jimmy Carter
In 1970, Norma Holloway Johnson was appointed by President Richard Nixon to be a judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
Source: Education and career section
5.Which president nominated Norma Holloway Johnson to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 1980?
- A.President Gerald Ford
- B.President George H.W. Bush
- C.President Jimmy Cartercorrect
- D.President Richard Nixon
Norma Holloway Johnson was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on February 28, 1980, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Source: Federal judicial service section
6.Norma Holloway Johnson was the first African-American woman to serve as chief judge of which court?
- A.United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- B.United States District Court for the District of Columbiacorrect
- C.United States Supreme Court
- D.District of Columbia Superior Court
Norma Holloway Johnson served as the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and was the first African-American woman to do so.
Source: Biography introduction
7.What position did Norma Holloway Johnson hold at the United States Department of Justice from 1963 to 1967?
- A.Trial attorney at the Civil Divisioncorrect
- B.Assistant Attorney General
- C.Legal advisor for the executive office
- D.Chief counsel for the criminal division
Norma Holloway Johnson worked as a trial attorney at the United States Department of Justice Civil Division from 1963 to 1967.
Source: Education and career section
8.What notable ruling did Norma Holloway Johnson make regarding President Bill Clinton's executive privilege in 1998?
- A.It was applicable only to personal, not political matters.
- B.It was absolute and blocked all questioning of aides.
- C.It was valid only if approved by Congress.
- D.It was outweighed by the independent counsel's need for evidence.correct
Norma Holloway Johnson ruled that President Clinton's right to executive privilege was outweighed by Kenneth Starr's legitimate need for evidence.
Source: President Clinton grand jury investigation section
9.Who was the politician sentenced by Norma Holloway Johnson to 17 months in prison for mail fraud?
- A.Dan Rostenkowskicorrect
- B.Bill Clinton
- C.Kenneth W. Starr
- D.Richard Nixon
Norma Holloway Johnson sentenced former congressman Dan Rostenkowski to 17 months in prison for mail fraud.
Source: President Clinton grand jury investigation section
10.Norma Holloway Johnson oversaw the conviction of which person for charges including perjury and obstruction of a congressional investigation?
- A.Beatrice Williams Holloway
- B.Rita Lavellecorrect
- C.Dan Rostenkowski
- D.Monica Lewinsky
Norma Holloway Johnson also oversaw the conviction of Rita Lavelle on charges of making false statements, obstruction of a congressional investigation, and perjury.
Source: President Clinton grand jury investigation section
11.On what date did Norma Holloway Johnson retire from the bench?
- A.September 18, 2011
- B.June 18, 2001
- C.December 31, 2003correct
- D.May 12, 1980
Norma Holloway Johnson served as chief judge until 2001 and remained in her role until her retirement on December 31, 2003.
Source: Federal judicial service section
12.Who was the civil rights activist and relative of Norma Holloway Johnson who served as NAACP president?
- A.Henry Holloway
- B.George Luzerne Hart Jr.
- C.Rupert Richardsoncorrect
- D.Kenneth W. Starr
Through her mother, Norma Holloway Johnson was a first cousin of Rupert Richardson, who served as the president of the NAACP from 1992 to 1995.
Source: Family section
13.Where did Norma Holloway Johnson pass away?
- A.Lake Charles, Louisianacorrect
- B.Georgetown, Louisiana
- C.A hospital in New Orleans
- D.Washington, D.C.
Norma Holloway Johnson died at her brother's home in her native Lake Charles.
Source: Death section
14.What degree did Norma Holloway Johnson receive from the District of Columbia Teachers College in 1955?
- A.Bachelor of Sciencecorrect
- B.Master of Education
- C.Bachelor of Arts
- D.Doctor of Philosophy
Norma Holloway Johnson received a Bachelor of Science degree from District of Columbia Teachers College in 1955.
Source: Education and career section
15.What was the reason the Washington Post referred to Norma Holloway Johnson as a "Key Player" in the 1998 grand jury investigation?
- A.She had to rule on a raft of motions relating to the investigation.correct
- B.She was the defense attorney for President Clinton.
- C.She was the primary witness for the grand jury.
- D.She was the independent counsel leading the case.
The Washington Post referred to Norma Holloway Johnson as a "Key Player" due to her having to rule on a raft of motions relating to the investigation by independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr.
Source: President Clinton grand jury investigation section
16.What was the cause of death for Norma Holloway Johnson?
- A.A respiratory illness
- B.Heart failure
- C.Cancer
- D.A strokecorrect
Norma Holloway Johnson died following a stroke at her brother's home.
Source: Death section
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