Celebrating Women’s History Month with Justice Johnson

This month, we're recognizing the achievements and contributions of women in the judiciary. The following features First District Appellate Court Justice Sharon Johnson and her thoughts on her career, the legal profession, and more.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the legal profession?

Destiny is sometimes discovered in adversity. As a student on the campus of Bradley University (Peoria, IL) in 1991, I encountered a group of White Supremacists marching across the street from the dormitory. Although only about 8% of the student body was Black, we were able to galvanize the student body in protest: not only against the marchers, but also calling for the university's divestment from South Africa. This movement catapulted me into student government as the student body secretary. In this role, I gained access to the board of trustees and office of the university president. I appreciated being in the "room where it happens," and learned that my voice mattered. As a result of this experience, I decided that law was a career worth pursuing.

What female role models have you looked up to both personally and professionally?

My mother, Linda Oden, is my personal role model. She mastered the pivot and taught me that God allows U-turns. My mother was the youngest of six children in very poor circumstances. This often resulted in her being last in line and underserved. Instead of focusing on the trauma that came along with growing up in Chicago's poorest communities, she was able to pivot and began to practice, what was then considered, New Thought Christianity. She learned: "What you think about, you bring about." This intentional positive thinking helped her to persevere into becoming a certified bookkeeper and then real estate investor. Through each challenging turn that life gives her, she finds a new way to persevere and excel. She does not just survive, she thrives. In so doing, she has given me a gift that keeps on giving: the power of positive thought. I believe that it is this practice that has made me believe that I could become an appellate court judge who is respected by my peers and community.

Justice Shelvin L. M. Hall (deceased) was a professional role model. She served on the Illinois Appellate Court for about 20 years and was an example of how to lead with dignity and unwavering conviction without being disagreeable. As such, she received many honors for her work on many local and national bar associations. In addition to her work on the appellate court, she spearheaded the renaming of Chicago's South Shore Drive to Jean Pointe DuSable drive in honor of the founder of Chicago. Upon her retirement, she encouraged me to seek election to the court, and in fact gave me her office furniture which had been passed down to her by another Black female appellate court judge who preceded her. I, in turn, will pass it on to the next black female justice who succeeds me.

What is the most important thing that you learned in the courtroom?

The most important thing I learned in the courtroom is that each case is as important as the next. My rulings have lasting effects on, not just the parties, but their families for generations to come. The families then affect their communities and society as a whole. Their children will cross paths with my children, their foreclosed homes will affect the value of their neighbor's home, a bankrupt business or industry will result in higher prices and taxes, etc. Therefore, it is imperative that I give the appropriate consideration and apply the law equitably to each case; whether a Fortune 500 company biometrics suit, a property line dispute between neighbors, or termination of parental rights. Every case matters.

How has the legal field changed over the years for women?

The legal field has changed in that more women, especially women of color, are in leadership positions. Since 1995, when I graduated from Howard University School of Law, we have seen women become presiding judges over entire departments, and for the first time in Illinois history, we have more women on the Illinois Supreme Court than men. More significantly, in the past five years, we have elevated two Black women to the Illinois high court, and the first Black woman, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the United States Supreme Court. As a child, I never thought that this was possible. Now as an adult, I am encouraged to set my goals higher and dream bigger.

If you could meet and talk to any woman in history, who would it be and why?

I would like to have met Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and to be a candidate for nomination by a major political party for the office of the United States presidency. I admire her perseverance and self-assuredness. Her pragmatism was rooted in love for all people. She prided herself on being independent, "unbought and unbossed." I especially like her quote, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." I am also very practical, and my family accuses me of "dancing to the beat of a different drum." If I could talk to Ms. Chisholm today, I would ask her advice on how to know who I can trust.

What advice do you have for young women entering the legal field today?

I would advise young women entering the legal field to know that you belong, trust your instincts, and use your voice. You are in the room, not just to occupy space or fill a quota, but because we need you to speak for the voiceless. Make every room, committee, and company that you are a part of, better because you were there. Your voice matters!

Is there anything else you'd like to share on this topic?

While I am so grateful to have obtained the position that I have, I realize that I cannot take the position with me when I leave this earth. Therefore, it is essential that I, and others, prepare the next generation to continue the journey, through mentorship, networking, and deliberative selection processes.