James Paul Johnson

James Paul Johnson (June 2, 1930 – November 16, 2023) was an American politician, lawyer and jurist from Colorado. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from 1973 to 1981.

Early life and career Johnson was born in Yankton, South Dakota, on June 2, 1930, to Fred and Evelyn Johnson. He earned his B.A. from Northwestern University in 1952 and later earned an LL.B. from the University of Colorado where he served on the board of editors for Volume 31 of the Rocky Mountain Law Review (now the University of Colorado Law Review). He graduated from law school in 1959.

In 1952, Johnson enlisted into the United States Marine Corps, where he was a first lieutenant, and served as a jet pilot during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956. Johnson met Nancy Brown, with whom he had two children, at Northwestern University and married on the same day of their graduation. They moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1959.

Later life and death After leaving office he resumed practicing law in Fort Collins, Colorado. He served as member of the supreme court judicial nominating commission for state of Colorado from 1984 to 1986 and also served as a member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board from 1985 to 1987.

Johnson died on November 16, 2023, at the age of 93.

Electoral history