The Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana welcomes its newly appointed Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official. Clifford D. Johnson makes history as he officially takes the seat as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, making him the first African American ever to hold the position. Clifford D. Johnson was sworn in as the Top Federal Prosecutor for the Northern District of Indiana by Chief U.S. District Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on the morning of October 6, 2021. Nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on July 26, 2021, U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on September 30, 2021, for the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. President Joe Biden subsequently signed the commission of U.S. Attorney Johnson on October 5, 2021.
Table of Contents
- Predecessor of U.S. Attorney Johnson
- Educational Background
- Legal Career – Department of Justice
- Legal Career – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana
- Statement by U.S. Attorney Johnson
- Office Jurisdiction
- Contact Details
- Hammond Office (Main)
- Fort Wayne Office
- South Bend Office
- Social Media Profiles of Clifford Johnson
Predecessor of U.S. Attorney Johnson
U.S. Attorney Clifford Johnson permanently fills in the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana that was only temporarily filled the past ten months following the resignation of former U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch, who became a judge with the U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit in December 2020. Attorneys Gary T. Bell and Tina L. Nommay served as the Acting U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of Indiana on two different terms, respectively, prior to the appointment of Top Federal Prosecutor Johnson.
Educational Background
A native of Gary, Indiana, United States Attorney Johnson is an alumnus of the Valparaiso University from where he earned his degree in Bachelor of Arts and graduated in 1976. He then attended the Valparaiso University Law School and received his Juris Doctorate in 1980.
Legal Career – Department of Justice
Prior to becoming a part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, Top Federal Prosecutor Johnson served a short stint at the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. For around five years, from August of 1980 to December of 1985, United States Attorney Clifford Johnson performed duties as a Trial Attorney in the Office’s Employment Litigation. In this capacity, U.S. Attorney Johnson worked to uphold both the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, especially the more vulnerable individuals within the community. Moreover, he was responsible for enforcing federal statutes that prohibited discrimination.
Legal Career – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana
In January of 1986, U.S. Clifford Johnson first came into the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. He was initially appointed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and held several supervisory roles within the Office. United States Attorney Johnson previously served as the Chief of the Office’s Civil Division and has built expertise in the capacity to hold the position for approximately 13 years, from 1997 to 2010. Following his long-term service as the Chief of the Civil Division, U.S. Attorney Johnson was named the First Assistant U.S. Attorney to the former U.S. Attorney David A. Capp in June 2010. He continued to serve as second-in-command under former U.S. Attorney Capp for the subsequent seven years until March 2017. Pursuant to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, U.S. Attorney Johnson took a seat in the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana as its interim Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for about seven months, from March of 2017 to October 2017, consequent to the resignation of former U.S. Attorney Capp. Top Federal Prosecutor Clifford Johnson was then re-appointed to being the First Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Office upon the confirmation into the position of former U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch in October 2017.
Statement by U.S. Attorney Johnson
United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson is an experienced lawyer with extensive skill and knowledge in leading the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. Throughout his 35-year tenure in the Office, he has stepped up a number of times and presided over the mission and vision of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Upon his appointment as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the Northern District of Indiana, Clifford Johnson asserted that the mission of the Office would persistently be facilitated. As such, U.S. Attorney Johnson states that the interest of the United States of America in the execution of federal laws will continue to be justly and efficiently represented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office under his leadership. Moreover, the public interest will be brought forward, and the fair and impartial administration of justice for all individuals will be made certain.
“I am looking forward to working hard on furthering the Office’s stated mission which is: To justly and with the highest degree of excellence represent the interests of the United States of America in the execution of federal laws, to advance the public interest, and to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all persons,” said U.S. Attorney Johnson.
Office Jurisdiction
Comprising of four regional offices with three staffed sites in the cities of Hammond, Fort Wayne, and South Bend, the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all criminal prosecution and civil litigation within the jurisdiction of the district, in which the United States is a party. In addition, the Office is responsible for the collection of judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. As the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the Northern District of Indiana, United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson is leading an authorized strength of approximately 77 employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, consisting of 38 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 39 support personnel. Moreover, U.S. Attorney Johnson, along with the talented and dedicated public officials, shall serve and protect the estimated 2.5 million residents of the historic and culturally diverse region – the Northern District of Indiana.
Contact Details
Full Name: Clifford D. Johnson
District/State: Northern District of Indiana
Public email ID: clifford.johnson@usdoj.gov
Hammond Office (Main)
United States Attorney’s Office
5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500
Hammond, IN 46320
(219) 937-5500
Main
(219) 852-2770
Fax
Fort Wayne Office
United States Attorney’s Office
3128 Federal Building
1300 South Harrison Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 422-2595
Main
(260) 426-1616
Fax
South Bend Office
United States Attorney’s Office
204 South Main Street
Room MO-1
South Bend, IN 46601
(574) 236-8287
Main
(574) 236-8155
Fax
Social Media Profiles of Clifford Johnson
Username: N/A
URL: N/A
Username: N/A
URL: N/A
YouTube
Username: USAO – Northern District of Indiana
URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChBSwe2kDPiPNgC9IT-onFA
Username: U.S. Attorney NDIN
Tag: @USAO_NDIN
URL: https://twitter.com/usao_ndin
Updated: February 15, 2022