Judge Hanif Johnson
“Everybody always says, well, we complain about stuff, but we never get up and do anything. This is me getting up and doing something.” Judge Hanif Johnson
Judge Hanif Johnson is an example of why you should be encouraged to never give up on your children or any young people who perhaps challenges you as a parent. We don't know what the creator of the universe has predestined for them or who they will become. Judge Hanif Johnson was arrested a few times before he decided to change his life. Johnson was always fighting and getting in some form of trouble. When Johnson joined the track team at his school his thinking began to shift. It saved his life. Johnson won the state championship at his high school. He is very involved in coaching track and field at Harrisburg High School.
In the State of Pennsylvania, you don't have to have a law degree to be a judge. I believe that all states should adopt this policy. Hanif Johnson became the first Magistrate District Judge in Pennsylvania at the age of 27 in 2017. People in his community thought he was too young to run for judge in his town of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When they saw he was serious they supported him. Johnson did attend Penn State University and became the president of the fraternity, Omega Psi Phi (Que Dogs). During his leadership, Hanif was accused of hazing. He
went to jail for two weeks and beat the trial. The reality of his life being in the palms of someone else's hands pushed Johnson in the right direction. Johnson wanted to get involved in the judicial system because he wanted to help people who looked like him and he didn't like how he was treated. He ran and he won!
Do not let naysayers tell you what you can't do. Do not listen to them when they tell you that you are too young or too old. Do it anyway. You're just ripe to be the change in another person's life. You are the 'thirsty' that is needed in diversity.
You will never know if you don't try. Remember that your gifts and assignments
are connected to other people's destiny. May you bathe in inspiration and bring levels of new hope to people in this world just like Judge Hanif Johnson.
"Don't be in such a hurry to condemn a person because he doesn't do what you do or think as you think. There was a time when you didn't know what you know today." Malcolm X
Judge Hanif Johnson is an example of why you should be encouraged to never give up on your children or any young people who perhaps challenges you as a parent. We don't know what the creator of the universe has predestined for them or who they will become. Judge Hanif Johnson was arrested a few times before he decided to change his life. Johnson was always fighting and getting in some form of trouble. When Johnson joined the track team at his school his thinking began to shift. It saved his life. Johnson won the state championship at his high school. He is very involved in coaching track and field at Harrisburg High School.
In the State of Pennsylvania, you don't have to have a law degree to be a judge. I believe that all states should adopt this policy. Hanif Johnson became the first Magistrate District Judge in Pennsylvania at the age of 27 in 2017. People in his community thought he was too young to run for judge in his town of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When they saw he was serious they supported him. Johnson did attend Penn State University and became the president of the fraternity, Omega Psi Phi (Que Dogs). During his leadership, Hanif was accused of hazing. He
went to jail for two weeks and beat the trial. The reality of his life being in the palms of someone else's hands pushed Johnson in the right direction. Johnson wanted to get involved in the judicial system because he wanted to help people who looked like him and he didn't like how he was treated. He ran and he won!
Do not let naysayers tell you what you can't do. Do not listen to them when they tell you that you are too young or too old. Do it anyway. You're just ripe to be the change in another person's life. You are the 'thirsty' that is needed in diversity.
You will never know if you don't try. Remember that your gifts and assignments
are connected to other people's destiny. May you bathe in inspiration and bring levels of new hope to people in this world just like Judge Hanif Johnson.
"Don't be in such a hurry to condemn a person because he doesn't do what you do or think as you think. There was a time when you didn't know what you know today." Malcolm X
