Bernette Joshua Johnson papers

The papers of Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson chiefly pertain to her membership and chairmanship of the National Bar Association (NBA) Judicial Council. This collection includes correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, photographs, and other materials related to her service as chair (1997 to 1998) of the National Bar Association Judicial Council and also reflect her prior service with the Judicial Council.

During her tenure as chair, the NBA drew some controversy within its ranks and from the media for their decision to invite United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to speak at their annual meeting in 1998. Justice Thomas was considered a contentious choice because of his multiple positions often perceived as antithetical to the interests of African Americans and other minorities. Correspondence, open letters, and newspaper clippings in this collection reflect that controversy; while several letter writers opposed the decision to allow Justice Thomas as a speaker, others opposed such censure in that there is no monolithic African American political viewpoint and supported Thomas' right to free speech. Notable African American lawyers and legal scholars such as A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. and William Cousins Jr. weighed in on this controversy, and their opinions are reflected in this collection. Correspondents regarding the Thomas controversy are from both within the NBA and external to the organization.

Biographical materials on Justice Johnson in this collection include photographs, her curriculum vitae, and a biographical statement.