438:
legislature to legalize hemp by 2022 and require the legislature to legalize medical marijuana by 2022. On
September 11, 2019, the South Dakota Secretary of State approved Johnson's proposed Constitutional Amendment for circulation. On November 4, 2019, Johnson turned in over 50,000 signatures for review by the South Dakota Secretary of State with the desire to qualify for the 2020 ballot. "We are proud to have submitted petitions on behalf of over 80,000 South Dakotans who believe that voters should decide out state's marijuana and hemp laws," said Brendan Johnson, a former federal prosecutor and Democrat who is sponsor of the legalization ballot initiative. On January 6, 2019, Johnson's proposed amendment qualified for the November 2020 ballot. In the November 2020 election, Amendment A was approved with 225,260 (54.18%) voting to approve it and 190,477 (45.82%) voting against it.
31:
441:
On
November 20, 2020, Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom and Colonel Rick Miller, Superintendent of the Highway Patrol sued to block Amendment A from being implemented. On February 8, 2021, Circuit Court Judge Christina Klinger ruled Amendment A unconstitutional as a violation of the single subject
360:
Johnson increased his office's focus on Native
American issues. He worked the night shift with tribal police officers, conducted leadership training for Native American youth, and implemented a new statewide community based prosecution strategy. His focus resulted in an increase in prosecutions. Some
347:
In 2009, the
Attorney General of the United States selected Johnson to serve as chairman of the Native American Issues Subcommittee. Two years later the Attorney General selected Johnson to serve on the Attorney's General Advisory Committee. Johnson is a member of the Terrorism and National Security
388:
cases in five years, including three life-sentences and the federal prosecution of numerous men who attempted to purchase sex from trafficking victims. He pursued the case of United States v. Jungers through the Eighth
Circuit Court of Appeals, securing the critical decision that buyers of sex acts
351:
As South Dakota's chief federal law enforcement officer, Johnson's office prosecuted several high-profile child exploitation cases, including the case of an individual who received a life sentence for the human trafficking of minors. He also convened the first statewide Tribal
Listening Session, a
392:
In 2014, Johnson received Shared Hope
International's Pathbreaker Award for determined leadership in combatting child sex trafficking: “Brendan Johnson is a force of determination, initiative and skill that should leave buyers terrified to purchase sex with a minor in South Dakota,” Shared Hope
437:
In June, 2019, Johnson submitted an initiated constitutional amendment which he entitled "An initiated amendment to the South Dakota
Constitution legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana". The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, require the
428:
Sheriff Kevin Thom in Dakota Rural Action, Dallas
Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network, NDN Collective, Sierra Club and Nicholas Tilsen, in Federal District Court, Case # 5:19-cv-5046 regarding SB 189 "the Riot Boosting Act" and criminal statutes SDCL 22-10-6 & 22-10-6.1.
519:
374:"the efforts of the Dakota Boys were a turning point in U.S.-Tribal relations ... Brendan and Tim were the right leaders at the right time to carry out the vision of President Obama and Attorney General Holder to improve public safety in Indian Country"
401:
After leaving the U.S. Attorney's office, Johnson went into private practice with Robins Kaplan LLP; he is the founding partner of the Sioux Falls branch. Robins Kaplan is the first national law firm to establish an office in South Dakota.
393:
International
President and Founder Linda Smith said. “By creating a threshold for buyer accountability, he sets a national precedent that, if applied, will make significant strides in reducing tolerance for purchasing sex with a minor.”
297:
and became a prosecutor for that county. In this capacity he prosecuted a number of cases, including the case of an individual who received two life sentences without parole and 145 years in state prison for the attempted murders of two
218:, where he serves as the Chair of the Firm's National Business Litigation Group and Member of the Firm's Executive Board. In 2024, Johnson was recognized as one of America's Top 200 Lawyers for his litigation work and representation of
1086:
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rule and found it to be a revision, not an amendment to the state constitution. Johnson appealed the decision to the South Dakota Supreme Court which heard oral arguments in the matter on April 28, 2021.
290:
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43:
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368:, were known as the “Dakota Boys” within the Justice Department and together they focused on improving public safety in tribal communities across the country.
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with minors are committing crimes of sex trafficking under the federal law, upping the risk of such activity by those who drive the sex trafficking markets.
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On November 24, 2021, the South Dakota Supreme Court struck down Amendment A by a vote of 4-1, ruling the amendment violated the single subject rule.
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234:, and his wife, Barbara (née Brooks) Johnson. Though his family originates from the Dutch city of Johnson, Brendan himself was born in
376:. Purdon and Johnson joined the law firm of Robins Kaplan LLP together and now work together on behalf of tribes in private practice.
321:
and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on October 15, 2009. He stepped down from the position on March 13, 2015.
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of his office's high-profile prosecutions include a 17-person drug conspiracy in Pine Ridge known as Operation Prairie Thunder.
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statewide civil rights conference, and has been an outspoken advocate on violence against women issues.
733:"U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson Receives Shared Hope Pathbreaker Award for Anti-Trafficking Leadership"
617:
305:
Johnson later became a partner in the law firm of Johnson, Heidepriem, Janklow, Abdallah and Johnson.
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where he was president of the Student Bar Association and a member of the Raven Honor Society.
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893:"Pennington County Sheriff sues to block recreational marijuana in South Dakota"
846:"South Dakotans to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana on November ballot"
462:
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His nomination to be United States Attorney was supported by several prominent
30:
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251:
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As United States Attorney, Johnson oversaw the prosecution of more than 25
453:
Brendan Johnson is married to Dr. Jana Beddow Johnson, who graduated from
254:. As a wrestler, he was known as "Magic Hips" and "Silver Lightning."
682:"Meet the Acting U.S. Attorney - USAO-NDNY - Department of Justice"
364:
Johnson and his counterpart in North Dakota, former U.S. Attorney
206:(born June 24, 1975) is an American attorney who served as the
291:
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
372:, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, said
344:, and a variety of state and local law enforcement leaders.
246:
in 1986. In high school, he received all district honors in
208:
40th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
915:"South Dakota judge rejects amendment legalizing marijuana"
824:"South Dakota groups file petitions to legalize marijuana"
433:
2020 proposed constitutional amendment regarding marijuana
660:"Feds charge for selling drugs on Pine Ridge Reservation"
1087:
United States Attorneys for the District of South Dakota
943:"South Dakota Supreme Court hears Amendment A arguments"
592:"USDOJ: US Attorney's Office - District of South Dakota"
1029:
United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
475:
United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
319:
United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
44:
United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
545:"A Senator's Son Forges His Own Path in South Dakota"
868:"2020 General State Canvass Final & Certificate"
614:"Brendan Johnson sends application for US Attorney"
571:"The next Johnson: Brendan eyes U.S. attorney post"
230:Johnson is the second son of United States Senator
173:
156:
148:
140:
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60:
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708:"US Attorney's Office - District of North Dakota"
281:, after graduating from law school to serve as a
309:U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
257:He later returned to Vermillion to attend the
755:"ACLU Files Challenge to "Riot Boosting" Act"
8:
1097:University of Virginia School of Law alumni
1010:
547:. Main Justice. 2010-02-10. Archived from
465:program. The Johnsons have four children.
56:October 15, 2009 – March 13, 2015
29:
18:
710:. Justice.gov. 2012-06-05. Archived from
520:"Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation"
210:. He is the son of former U.S. Senator
486:
616:. Lakota Country Times. Archived from
495:"Meet America's Top 200 Lawyers 2024"
7:
1072:People from Vermillion, South Dakota
267:University of Virginia School of Law
1067:People from Hill City, South Dakota
313:Johnson was nominated by President
641:. Lakota Country Times. 2008-05-29
14:
1092:University of South Dakota alumni
802:"Potential 2020 Ballot Questions"
332:, former State Attorney General
265:. Brendan went on to attend the
242:after his father was elected to
965:"Thom v. Barnett, 2021 S.D. 65"
261:where he was selected for the
238:. He moved with his family to
214:and currently is a partner at
1:
612:Walker, Carson (2009-01-29).
419:South Dakota Attorney General
410:In March, 2019, Johnson sued
328:, including former Governor
569:Ross, Denise (2008-12-10).
263:Harry S. Truman Scholarship
1113:
259:University of South Dakota
178:University of South Dakota
1035:
1026:
1018:
1013:
406:Riot Boosting Act lawsuit
197:
94:
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37:
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236:Vermillion, South Dakota
226:Early life and education
124:Vermillion, South Dakota
992:. Avera. Archived from
279:Hill City, South Dakota
1077:South Dakota Democrats
662:. rapidcityjournal.com
356:Native American issues
187:University of Virginia
990:"Jana B. Johnson, MD"
412:South Dakota Governor
289:, Chief Judge of the
1082:South Dakota lawyers
804:. September 11, 2019
293:. He later moved to
970:. November 24, 2021
895:. November 20, 2020
873:. November 10, 2020
455:Mayo Medical School
204:Brendan Van Johnson
108:Brendan Van Johnson
923:. February 8, 2021
826:. November 5, 2019
735:. October 17, 2014
397:Later legal career
300:Sioux Falls Police
283:judicial law clerk
250:and excelled as a
1045:
1044:
1036:Succeeded by
848:. January 6, 2020
426:Pennington County
386:human trafficking
380:Human trafficking
370:Richard Hartunian
285:to the Honorable
277:Johnson moved to
216:Robins Kaplan LLP
201:
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1019:Preceded by
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945:. April 28, 2021
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920:Associated Press
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757:. March 28, 2019
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295:Minnehaha County
240:Washington, D.C.
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99:Personal details
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573:. Bhpioneer.com
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461:of the Harvard
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422:Jason Ravnsborg
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220:Native American
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131:Political party
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23:Brendan Johnson
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16:American lawyer
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782:. May 30, 2019
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1062:Living people
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1022:Marty Jackley
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996:on 2011-10-28
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714:on 2013-07-15
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631:
620:on 2016-03-03
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594:. Justice.gov
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551:on 2016-06-10
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120:(age 49)
118:June 24, 1975
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77:Marty Jackley
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69:
66:
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1039:Randy Seiler
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998:. Retrieved
994:the original
984:
974:November 24,
972:. Retrieved
959:
947:. Retrieved
937:
925:. Retrieved
918:
909:
897:. Retrieved
887:
875:. Retrieved
862:
850:. Retrieved
840:
828:. Retrieved
818:
806:. Retrieved
796:
784:. Retrieved
777:"LRC Letter"
771:
759:. Retrieved
749:
737:. Retrieved
727:
716:. Retrieved
712:the original
702:
690:. Retrieved
688:. 2015-01-29
685:
676:
664:. Retrieved
654:
643:. Retrieved
633:
622:. Retrieved
618:the original
607:
596:. Retrieved
586:
575:. Retrieved
564:
553:. Retrieved
549:the original
539:
527:. Retrieved
523:
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502:. Retrieved
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444:
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409:
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391:
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363:
359:
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330:Bill Janklow
323:
317:as the 40th
315:Barack Obama
312:
304:
276:
273:Early career
256:
229:
203:
202:
89:Randy Seiler
84:Succeeded by
65:Barack Obama
51:
1057:1975 births
830:November 5,
739:February 8,
686:Justice.gov
463:dermatology
415:Kristi Noem
342:Dave Munson
338:Sioux Falls
326:Republicans
232:Tim Johnson
212:Tim Johnson
164:Tim Johnson
144:Jana Beddow
72:Preceded by
1051:Categories
1033:2009–2015
1000:2012-08-12
949:August 11,
927:August 11,
899:August 11,
877:August 11,
852:January 7,
718:2012-08-12
645:2012-08-12
639:"Archives"
624:2012-08-12
598:2012-08-12
577:2012-08-12
555:2012-08-12
524:truman.gov
499:forbes.com
481:References
366:Tim Purdon
334:Larry Long
302:Officers.
135:Democratic
114:1975-06-24
504:March 30,
336:, former
222:tribes.
174:Education
61:President
52:In office
666:July 28,
529:July 28,
469:See also
459:resident
252:wrestler
248:football
244:Congress
166:(father)
149:Children
786:June 5,
761:June 3,
692:28 July
340:Mayor
157:Parent
141:Spouse
126:, U.S.
968:(PDF)
871:(PDF)
780:(PDF)
42:40th
976:2021
951:2021
929:2021
901:2021
879:2021
854:2020
832:2019
810:2019
788:2019
763:2010
741:2017
694:2017
668:2017
531:2017
506:2024
424:and
104:Born
1053::
917:.
684:.
522:.
497:.
417:;
191:JD
182:BS
116:)
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
