November 13, 2008
On September 22, 2008 a reception was held at St. Maggie’s Café
in New York City to honor one of the nation’s great trial
attorneys, Peter James Johnson ’49. Many friends, family,
colleagues, members of the judiciary, and other dignitaries were in
attendance to join in the celebration.
Vice Dean Andrew J. Simons ’65 expressed how pleased the Law
School community was to name the National Civil Rights Trial
Competition in honor of Mr. Johnson. Professor Keri K. Gould,
Assistant Dean for Professional Skills, shared some thoughts about
the history of the competition. St. John’s School of Law
sponsors the only National Civil Rights Trial Competition in the
country. This competition offers law students from up to 16
law schools throughout the country an opportunity to try a civil
rights case in an actual courtroom setting before prominent jurists
and trial attorneys.
Peter James Johnson, a graduate of St. John’s University and the
School of Law, is founding Member of Leahey & Johnson,
P.C. He has been a lifelong advocate for the rights of his
clients and his community, fearlessly protecting each in America’s
courtrooms or wherever the fight was. Mr. Johnson has been
selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America
since its original publication twenty years ago. He has been
awarded Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating – “AV.”
His achievements have been chronicled in the New York Law
Journal, which described him in a profile as the “standard
setter” for civil trial lawyers in New York courts.
“For many attorneys,” continued the profile in the Law
Journal, “there is no higher compliment than to call another
attorney ‘a Peter Johnson.’” Known as the “trial lawyer’s
trial lawyer” for his charismatic presentations, incisive
preparation, and strong impact on juries, Mr. Johnson has an
unparalleled record of success in handling and trying lawsuits and
appeals involving complex matters, personal injury, wrongful
deaths, and corporate disputes.
St. John’s School of Law hosted the 2008 Peter James Johnson
National Civil Rights Trial Competition in October. The
preliminary rounds took place at the Nassau County Supreme Court
and the semi-finals and championship rounds here held at the Law
School in the Belson Moot Courtroom.