At 27-years-old, Hanif Johnson is the youngest elected District Judge in Pennsylvania.
Having won the January election by a 73 percent margin–against Republican Claude Phipps–Johnson leads Dauphin County and hears cases within its predominately black capital.
Many residents were skeptical by Johnson's involvement in street activity as a youth. He was imprisoned three times for related crimes. While attending college, Johnson became the President of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, and faced hazing allegations which resulted in a two week jail stay. However, the court found him not guilty. Johnson reacted to the verdict by turning his life around.
“I know how it feels, sitting across from that judge and that jury when you're innocent,” Johnson told Huffington Post.
Judge Hanif Johnson is swearing in Elected Officials. #thecityofhbg pic.twitter.com/c2XgmWO6kc— City of Harrisburg (@thecityofhbg) January 2, 2018
Between his young age and criminal records, Johnson recalls doors being closed in his face; especially during his campaign.
“They laughed at me,” Johnson told HuffPost. “They said, ‘Boy if you don’t get away from my house saying you want to be a judge. You are too young!’ But after the fourth or fifth conversation, I would ask them who they are voting for, and they would say me. I guess I’m not a joke anymore.”
Johnson pushed forward despite opposition. When explaining his decision to become a judge, Johnson told Huffington Post,
“When you sit back, and you see Donald Trump become president, and you hear about all of these things we are being affected by, it seems like everything happens through the court system. Everybody always says, well, we complain about stuff, but we never get up and do anything. This is me getting up and doing something.”
While running for District Judge, Johnson balanced responsibilities as a youth coach, and a track coach at Harrisburg High School, Penn Live reported.
“I got involved to serve the community,” Johnson told Penn Live. “I felt [running for District Judge] was a way I could expand on that to make sure everybody gets a fair shake and impartial justice.”
As a native, Johnson feels that he can add more to the community than an outsider; as a father to a 1-year-old son he's prepared him to be sentimental and tough, and to consider familial situations.
“Being that I live in the area, they know me, I know the people, I know what’s going on,” Johnson told Huffington Post.
“You have single moms that can’t pay a parking ticket; I have the control to make life easier for her, rathe than someone from out of town who don’t understand that $100 ticket might be too much for her and she ends up in jail over that ticket.”
As a magisterial district judge, Johnson was elected by residents, and underwent training in order to prepare him for legal matters. Certification included passing an examination that covered all aspects of his new position: presiding over citations, minor criminal cases and deciding whether cases would be dismissed or continued to the Court of Common Pleas. A law degree is not required to fill the position, and after his vigorous training, Johnson hopes to make strides in attaining justice within his community.
