Obituary: James William Johnson Jr.

Judge James William Johnson Jr., resident circuit judge for the 8th Judicial Circuit, died July 13. He was 56.

Johnson’s law career began in 1976 as an attorney in the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. > Five years later, he moved to Clinton and entered private practice. In 1984, Johnson was elected to the state House of Representatives and served until 1992, when he was elected to his position as resident circuit judge.

While serving as judge, Johnson also held positions as chair of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, chair of the South Carolina Circuit Court Judges Association and chair of the Circuit Judges Advisory Committee. He also served on the Judicial Counsel of South Carolina.

Johnson was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, where he served as an elder, youth advisor and chair of various committees. >He also was active in various community organizations.