James Johnson

James (Jim) Johnson, a retired partner at Debevoise & Plimpton and a former Brennan Fellow, and senior advisor in the New Jersey governor’s office, is the Chief Operating Officer of Trinity Church Wall Street. Previously he served as Corporation Counsel for New York City, where he led the city’s law department.  He has held several senior positions in the United States Department of the Treasury, which earned him the Alexander Hamilton Award—the Department’s highest award given to officials for excellence in service. He is also the recipient of the Attorney General’s Certificate for Excellence in Prosecution. In 2003, he was named to Black Enterprise’s List of the Nation’s Top Black Lawyers and to Crain’s New York Business’s List of Most Powerful Minorities. He is a member of the Harvard College Board of Overseers, a trustee of the Montclair Art Museum, and was the Chair of the Board of the Brennan Center for Justice. He is the author of numerous articles that have appeared in national publications, including the New York Daily News and the Washington Post.