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Sterling Johnson (Finding Aid)
1934 -
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Time of Year: Spring
Interview Length: 122 minutes
Interview Date(s): May 21, 2001
Interview Location(s): Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn, New York
Abstract
Federal Court Judge Sterling Johnson details his family background and hardscrabble life in Brooklyn New York in the 1930s-1940s. Federal District Court Judge Sterling Johnson details his life as a police officer while finishing college and supporting a family. After 8 1/2 years in college, Johnson was encouraged to pursue a legal career. He recalls the intellectual challenges and triumphs while at Brooklyn College as well as some humorous anecdotes. Sterling Johnson details his years of experience working as a narcotics prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's office in New York. Johnson shares many detailed stories of different cases he worked on and explains how the drug trade works in the United States. Federal district court judge Sterling Johnson describes his appointment to the bench, describes his accomplishments in that post, and discusses issues in judgeships and clerkships, especially a lack of diversity. Federal District court judge, Sterling Johnson, shares an anecdote of driving while black and what legacy he hopes to leave.
29 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)
- Slating of Sterling Johnson interview
- Sterling Johnson's favorites
- Sterling Johnson shares his mother's background
- Sterling Johnson shares family history of slavery and poverty
- Sterling Johnson discusses his siblings and death of his brother
- Sterling Johnson discusses his father's background
- Sterling Johnson details childhood memories.
- Sterling Johnson recalls his elementary school years
- Sterling Johnson describes Marine Corps life
- Sterling Johnson discusses life as an NYPD officer and college student
- Sterling Johnson details law school life at Brooklyn Law School
- Sterling Johnson describes his legal mentors and law school life
- Sterling Johnson details his early legal career as a US Attorney
- Sterling Johnson talks about working as a narcotics officer
- Sterling Johnson discusses the dearth of blacks on the federal bench
- Sterling Johnson details life as a policeman on the narcotics beat
- Sterling Johnson details the international trade of herion
- Sterling Johnson recalls his successful tenure as a Special Narcotics Prosecutor
- Sterling Johnson discusses the impact of politics on his criminal prosecutions
- Sterling Johnson recalls a contract put on his life by a drug lord
- Sterling Johnson discusses his federal judicial nomination process
- Sterling Johnson describes life on the federal bench
- Sterling Johnson discusses the dearth of blacks in the federal judiciary
- Sterling Jonson sharesstories of his unothodox methods to secure a new Federal courthouse
- Sterling Johnson shares anecdotes of his attempts to diversify judicial clerkships
- Sterling Johnson tries to educate the younger generation about the legal and criminial process
- Sterling Johnson shares conerns of the slow pace of black achievement
- Sterling Johnson shares a story of DWB- driving while black
- Sterling Johnson reflects upon his parents and his legacy