Christopher D. Johnson, Esquire
Federal and Military Attorney
Chris Johnson can be reached at (818) 451-3918 or by email at Chris.Johnson@bestfederallawyer.com
Former Senior Litigation Counsel, Organized Crime Strike Force, U.S. Department of Justice Appointed by the Attorney General of the United States. Former Prosecutor of the Year for the United States, selected by the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators. Real-Life military attorney who inspired the Hollywood Blockbuster "A Few Good Men" starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. Extraordinary track record of litigation performance in high profile federal and military cases. Christopher Johnson, Esquire     | During his 25 years of litigation experience, on both sides of the courtroom, Mr. Johnson has developed finely honed skills in criminal trial law. Upon receiving his Juris Doctor in 1982 from Tulane University, Chris was the first member of his class to pass the bar and immediately established himself as a top-notch defense attorney. JAG Corps Experience As a Lieutenant Commander in the JAG Corps, United States Navy, Chris skillfully defended an impressive array of matters, including attempted murder, espionage, rape, embezzlement, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, theft, narcotics and drug charges. During the initial military implementation of urinalysis drug testing in the early 1980's, Mr. Johnson amassed an extraordinary 11 acquittals of 13 trials for drug use based on a positive urinalysis test. In fact, Mr. Johnson contested the Navy drug testing program as a whole, noting that the Army and Air Force used different threshold standards than the Navy. The trial court agreed and dismissed the case. (Satterfield v. Drew, 17 M.J. 269, 273 (C.M.A. 1984).) The government appealed, and lost, with the United States Court of Military Appeals agreeing with the defense, pointing out that "counsel have ably dealt with several novel issues." One of "A Few Good Men" Chris ended his 6 1/2 year JAGC career on a similarly impressive note, successfully defending LCPL Petersen at the United States Marine Corps Barracks, Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba. When a hazing incident went awry, with a Marine in critical condition, the Commanding Officer (CO) brought charges of conspiracy to commit murder against ten Marines. Chris, the most experienced member of the defense team, learned of the "Code Red" hazing practice prevalent at GTMO and the tacit approval of the practice by the military commanders. Lt. Johnson sought to question the Commanding Officer (CO). The CO initially made admissions regarding the practice, but later retracted them. Chris then drafted criminal charges against the Colonel, asking higher authorities to investigate the actions of the officers and the apparent conflict-of-interest on the part of the Colonel in charging the Marines with attempted murder. A subsequent investigation resulted in the removal of the CO from command and an independent review of the facts. Three Marines were ultimately charged with misdemeanor assault, charges that Chris eventually got dismissed once all the facts were known. The incidents and outcome of Chris' bold participation in this infamous case provided the foundation for the screenplay and motion picture adaptation of "A Few Good Men" (copyright 1992, Columbia Pictures), starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. Proven Spectacular Results Upon leaving the military, Chris Johnson briefly opened a criminal defense practice in Norfolk, Virginia, where he had two trials, one for aggravated assault and the other for sexual assault, both of which resulted in acquittal. In Chris' Sexual Assault case, a Navy oral surgeon was charged with molesting a patient. Under intensive cross-examination by Chris, the alleged victim admitted that she "might not" have been improperly touched by the doctor, was "probably mistaken," and may have exaggerated her claims based on her desire to reconcile with her estranged husband. | Following this testimony, the judge dismissed the charges. In a showing of compassion from the bench, the judge apologized to the defendant for the draining emotional ordeal which he had just been through. Under Chris' aggressive defense, a serious sexual charge that would have ended the career of a surgeon and resulted in prison time, instead turned into an acquittal and apology. Federal Defense with a Priceless Insider's Perspective After Chris' impressive performance in the military and then in private practice, Chris decided to join the U.S. Department of Justice as a prosecutor. Chris was selected for one of the scarce and highly coveted positions as a Trial Attorney with the Organized Crime Strike Force, U.S. Department of Justice. During the ensuing fourteen years, Chris successfully handled a wide variety of cases, including numerous high profile matters. He was promoted by Attorney General Janet Reno to the status of Senior Litigation Counsel, a designation shared by less than 3% of federal prosecutors. Chris has since returned to criminal defense and has amassed a list of impressive case results, including obtaining dismissal of charges in a recent sex crimes accusation, and an acquittal of all seven drug charges in his most recent trial. Why Chris Johnson? Who better in your time of need than an aggressive advocate who knows from direct experience how to unravel the complex knots that make up a Federal case. Whether you are facing or might be investigated for charges in Federal or Military Courts, Chris' skills, experience and insights into the criminal justice system may be the best formula for proving your innocence. |
Christopher Johnson, Esquire
Federal and Military Attorney
Suite 275, 22647 Ventura Boulevard
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(818) 451-3918
