Postman has the scoop that a man named Michael Johnson has filed as a candidate for the state Supreme Court position currently held by Susan Owens and already challenged by Sen. Stephen Johnson.
Postman says that Michael Johnson was refusing phone calls today. It's hard to believe that he filed for any reason other than to confuse voters. Postman also asks Anyone know who he is?
Here's what I've been able to find out about Michael Johnson --
His lawyers.com profile :
Hardman & Johnson practices in the following areas of law:(if it's a firm size of 1, who's Hardman? -- Ed. Oh, wait. Hardman is here) Johnson's State Bar Association record also has his email address.
Guardianship and Elder Law, General Civil Litigation.
Firm Size: 1
MEMBER OF FIRM
Michael L. Johnson (Member) born Red Bank, New Jersey, March 31, 1960; admitted to bar, 1998, Washington. Education: Plymouth State University (B.S., 1995); University of Washington (J.D., 1998). Member: King County (Member, Sections on: Elder Law and Guardianship; Elder Law), Tacoma-Pierce County and Washington State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Guardianship; Elder Law; Civil Litigation. Email: Michael L. Johnson
The UW degree validation site confirms his JD and adds that his middle name is Leonard. His voter registration record puts him in at this address with 3 other registered voters (2 active, 1 inactive) in the same apartment. He's missed a few primaries but is a reasonably regular voter. He lists his practice in the GSBA directory.
Among his various activities, he has unsuccessfully sued DSHS on behalf of Fircrest residents. The appeal was denied. In other cases, he lost this appeal and this appeal. This appeal was dismissed as moot. I searched MRSC and could not find any appeal in which he prevailed.
I find no reportable contributions to federal campaigns. His only reportable in-state campaign contributions are to a registered political committee called "Victims Advocates", which donates almost exclusively to Democratic campaigns and ... this year's incumbent Supreme Court Justices. Victims Advocates appears to be one of a group of closely affiliated trial lawyer PACs, which, by the way, were slapped with a PDC fine a few years ago for improper filing.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 27, 2006 06:51 PM | Email ThisI see his intent but he is doing Steven a great service. He is just dumb enough to not understand that.
Posted by: Bullmaxon on July 27, 2006 07:17 PMMaybe he's just a bit of a crank who really thinks he should be on the Supreme Court and decided to jump in late.
"Johnson," after all, is not an unusual name.
Posted by: ScottM on July 27, 2006 08:13 PMSo what is this guy's motivation? Is he running in the hopes that votes will be confused about which "Johnson" to vote for? Is he hoping that voters will be confused and perhaps he'll come in second in the primary, and then not run, ensuring election for Justice Owens?
Or is he hoping that even if he's third, in the general election people won't know which "Johnson" is on the ballot, and thus vote for Owens instead of the wrong "Johnson?"
Posted by: Obi-Wan on July 27, 2006 09:33 PMIf I recall correctly, Charles Johnson was first elected to the bench when he ran against a very highly regarded justice with a bit of a strange name.
Posted by: Don on July 27, 2006 10:14 PM29A.84.320
Duplicate, nonexistent, untrue names -- Penalty.
A person is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW who files a declaration of candidacy for any public office of:
(1) A nonexistent or fictitious person; or
(2) The name of any person not his or her true name; or
(3) A name similar to that of an incumbent seeking reelection to the same office with intent to confuse and mislead the electors by taking advantage of the public reputation of the incumbent; or
(4) A surname similar to one who has already filed for the same office, and whose political reputation is widely known, with intent to confuse and mislead the electors by capitalizing on the public reputation of the candidate who had previously filed.
29A.84.270
Duplication of names -- Conspiracy -- Criminal and civil liability.
Any person who with intent to mislead or confuse the electors conspires with another person who has a surname similar to an incumbent seeking reelection to the same office, or to an opponent for the same office whose political reputation has been well established, by persuading such other person to file for such office with no intention of being elected, but to defeat the incumbent or the well known opponent, is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. In addition, all conspirators are subject to a suit for civil damages, the amount of which may not exceed the salary that the injured person would have received had he or she been elected or reelected.
I'm not clear on what you mean here. Was Victims Advocates slapped with a fine? Or are you stating that VA is similar to other groups which were in fact fined?
Cheers, Mike in Americas Vancouver, departing tomorrow on his week long wine jaunt to Walla Walla and back...
Posted by: Mike in America's Vancouver on July 28, 2006 01:21 PM