IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 3 

Recognizing former United States Federal Judge Frank Minis Johnson, Jr., 

for his role in the civil rights movement. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2017 

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing former United States Federal Judge Frank 

Minis Johnson, Jr., for his role in the civil rights movement. 

Whereas Judge Johnson served bravely in the armed forces 

during World War II before pursuing a legal career; 

Whereas Judge Johnson served on the U.S. Court of Appeals 

for the Fifth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Middle 

District of Alabama; 

Whereas in each capacity he courageously worked to advance 

the constitutional principles of freedom and equality; 

Whereas in 1956, in his decision in Browder v. Gayle, Judge 

Johnson struck down the Alabama bus segregation laws, 

assisting the leaders of the civil rights movement engaged 

in the Montgomery Bus Boycott; 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
2 

•HCON 3 IH 

Whereas in 1961, in his decision in Gomillion v. Lightfoot, 

Judge Johnson invalidated as a violation of the 15th 

amendment an electoral plan setting the boundaries for 

the city of Tuskegee, Alabama, that systematically excluded Black voters; 

Whereas in 1961, in his decision in U.S. v. Alabama, Judge 

Johnson ordered that African-American registration be 

evaluated as equally as the least qualified White applicant approved for the voting rolls; 

Whereas in 1961, in his decision in Lewis v. Greyhound, 

Judge Johnson ordered the desegregation of the bus facilities in the city of Montgomery, Alabama; 

Whereas in 1961, in his decision in U.S. v. City of Montgomery, Judge Johnson required the city of Montgomery, 

Alabama, to surrender its voting registration records to 

the Department of Justice so that they could determine 

African-American voter registration; 

Whereas in 1962, in his decision in Sim v. Frink, Judge 

Johnson required the State of Alabama to reapportion 

State legislative districts to abide by the ‘‘one man, one 

vote’’ principle; 

Whereas in 1963, in his decision in Lee v. Macon County 

Board of Education, Judge Johnson ordered the desegregation of public schools in Alabama, the first statewide 

desegregation order of public schools in the Nation; 

Whereas in 1965, in his decision in Williams v. Wallace, 

Judge Johnson blocked Governor George Wallace’s prohibition in Alabama of the Southern Christian Leadership 

Conference’s Selma to Montgomery march for voting 

rights; 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

•HCON 3 IH 

Whereas in 1966, in his decision in White v. Crook, Judge 

Johnson ruled that the State of Alabama must grant African-Americans the right to serve on juries; 

Whereas in 1970, in his decision in Smith v. YMCA of Montgomery, Judge Johnson ordered the desegregation of the 

Montgomery chapter of the YMCA; 

Whereas in 1974, in his decision in U.S. v. Dothard, Judge 

Johnson ordered that the Alabama Department of Public 

Safety stop systematically excluding African-Americans 

from employment within its agency; 

Whereas in 1974, in his decision in Doe v. Plyler, Judge 

Johnson struck down a law that imposed a tuition of 

$1,000 on the children of undocumented immigrants; 

Whereas in 1995, Judge Johnson, in recognition of his decisions and service in pursuit of justice and equality for all, 

was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by 

President Bill Clinton; 

Whereas the insight and constitutional judgment of Judge 

Johnson was invaluable and aided the Supreme Court as 

it recognized the violations and injustices in the Nation 

during the civil rights movement; 

Whereas the Supreme Court upheld and utilized the wisdom 

from many of Judge Johnson’s decisions; and 

Whereas it is evident that the civil rights movement would 

have been at a great disadvantage if someone without 

Judge Johnson’s judicious temperament, constitutional 

mindset, and dedication to rule of law had served in his 

stead: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress recognizes former United 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
4 

•HCON 3 IH 

1 States Federal Judge Frank Minis Johnson, Jr., for his 

2 role in the civil rights movement. 

Æ 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS