Faith Johnson Appointed Dallas County DA
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott has named Faith Johnson the new District Attorney of Dallas County.
The Governor's office began calling other candidates to inform them that they didn't get the job. Among them were Dallas attorneys Vick Cunningham and Danny Clancy.
"Throughout her career, Faith has proven herself a dedicated public servant, most notably as a criminal prosecutor where she attained the status of Chief Felony Prosecutor during her time in the Dallas County District Attorney's Office," said Governor Abbott. "As a former prosecutor, district judge, and while serving on the Department of Public Safety Commission, Faith has shown a commitment to law enforcement and the rule of law. She has devoted herself to defending some of our most vulnerable Texans, and I am confident that in her new role as District Attorney, Faith will continue to fight for the people of Dallas County and ensure that justice is served."
Johnson previously was the first African-American female district criminal judge elected in the state of Texas, where she served as the presiding judge for 17 years.
According to her firm's website, Johnson also became the first African-American female to attain the highly regarded status of Chief Felony Prosecutor during her time in the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. In 2014, Johnson was appointed by former Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Public Safety Commission, where she is one of five Commissioners who oversee homeland security, border patrol and terrorism in Texas.
"Governor Abbott has made an exceptional choice with the appointment of Faith Johnson for Dallas County District Attorney. I would like to commend the Governor for his deliberate effort to bring forth the best candidate to serve the great people of Dallas County. Throughout Faith's career she has exhibited the utmost professionalism and a steadfast commitment to upholding our rule of law. I have no doubt that she will thrive in this new position and dedicate herself to protecting the rights of all citizens in our community. I look forward to working with Faith to make our community safer and stronger," said Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX).
"For us, the law is about people. At the end of the day, we want our clients to feel respected and feel that we handled their legal issue with the highest level of service, honesty, and integrity," Johnson says in a quote on the Faith Johnson and Associate's website.
Upon the appointment, Senator Don Huffines commented, "I applaud the Governor's appointment of Faith for Dallas County DA, and I wish her all the best as she takes on this new leadership role."
Former DA Susan Hawk resigned in September after being treated for a mental illness.
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