J. Philip Johnson

 

Phil Johnson was born in Minot, North Dakota. His education included Minot State University, the University of North Dakota (J.D. 1962), and Georgetown University School of Law. He served as Editor in Chief of the North Dakota Law Review and then served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corp, with the Appellate Counsel Division of the Judge Advocate General's Office.

 

Upon his return to North Dakota, Phil and his wife JoAnne had two sons and remained active in the Lutheran Church and community affairs. Their activities include Messiah Lutheran Church, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, Fargo Jaycees, YMCA, Red River Art Center, Fargo Rotary, PEO, and Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation.

 

In 1974, Phil was appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court but lost a subsequent election. In 1980, he was elected President of the State Bar Association of North Dakota. Previous to that election, he had chaired the Specialization Committee of the State Bar. In 1982, he was elected delegate to the American Bar Association, House of Delegates.

 

In 1992, Phil was again appointed to the Supreme Court of North Dakota and served an unexpired term.

 

Beginning in 2007, Phil began spending portions of the winter months in Arizona. However, the firm is fortunate that Phil remains a member of the firm, serving of counsel on a part-time basis.

 

Primary areas of practice: Business, Real Property, Civil Litigation and Appeals, Estate Planning, and Probate.