Dan L. Johnston died Friday, October 21, 2016 of cancer at the age of 78.
He was born on April 6, 1938 in Montezuma Iowa to Orie and Vera Johnston.
Dan was a staunch advocate for the civil rights of others. Even before he became a lawyer, Dan began working to set up the pretrial release project in Polk County, allowing indigent persons accused of crimes the ability to be released while their cases were sorted out. After receiving his law degree from Drake University Law School, Dan immediately began practicing and working with the ACLU.
At the age of 30, Dan successfully argued the landmark U.S. Supreme Court free speech case, “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District” (“the black armband case”) which established free speech rights for students in public schools. Dan also argued “In re Legislative Districting” before the Iowa Supreme Court which established that Iowa’s Congressional districts may not be gerrymandered.
Dan served a term in the Iowa General Assembly in from 1967-68 and later served as the Polk County Attorney from 1977 – 1985.
Dan was an avid Sailor and a member of the Harlem Yacht Club in New York City where he lived from 1972 until 1977 and from 1985 until 2012. While in New York, Dan served on the board of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and the New York police complaint review board. Dan also spent time in Washington D.C., working for the National Center for State Courts and on the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Dan continued to practice after returning to Iowa in 2012 with the Law firm Glazebrook, Moe, & Hurd, LLP. Along with his colleague Joseph Glazebrook and attorneys from Lambda Legal, Dan succeeded in bringing about important reforms to Iowa’s badly outdated HIV laws.
Dan is survived by his lifelong friend, Randall James and his Godson Philip Hedges.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his companion, Norman Jesse in 2000.
Dan will be laid to rest with his parents at Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Obituary & photo published by Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home∼Dan was the son of Orie Daniel Johnston & Vera Pearl Dunwoody. He attended the public schools in Marshalltown and Toledo before earning a bachelor's degree from Westmar College, attending Iowa State University, and earning a law degree from Drake University Law School.
He served as an assistant Iowa attorney general before being elected to the Iowa House in 1966. Rather than seek re-election in 1968, he ran for Iowa Attorney General, winning the Democratic nomination before losing the general election to Republican Richard C. Turner. In 1975, he began working for the National Center for State Courts.
He was elected Polk County attorney in 1976, serving from 1977 to 1985, when he decided to resign and move to New York City. In New York, he served as director of Gay Men's Health Crisis from 1987 to 1990 and on the New York police civilian complaint review board from 1986 to 1990. He then lived in Washington, D.C. and worked as general counsel for the criminal justice subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Tinker v. Des Moines
Johnston's highest profile case as a lawyer was Tinker v. Des Moines, a case about the free speech rights of two Des Moines public school students who wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were subsequently suspended by school administrators. Johnston argued and won the case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969, when he was just over a year out of law school.
Dan was gay; his partner for more than 35 years was Norman Jesse (findagrave #157982463), who also served in the Iowa House. They met as students in Drake Law School. Neither Johnston nor Jesse was publicly out as gay during their careers in politics, however. They even maintained separate residences across the street from each other, and rarely spent the night together in the same bed. Norman Jesse died in 2000.
In 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Iowa presented the 2014 Louise Noun Award to Dan L. Johnston. The Noun award is named after Louise Noun, the distinguished Des Moines activist, philanthropist, and former president of the ACLU of Iowa Board of Directors. It is given to those who have made significant contributions or displayed uncommon courage on behalf of civil liberties in the state of Iowa. Dan Johnston richly fits that description.
He was born on April 6, 1938 in Montezuma Iowa to Orie and Vera Johnston.
Dan was a staunch advocate for the civil rights of others. Even before he became a lawyer, Dan began working to set up the pretrial release project in Polk County, allowing indigent persons accused of crimes the ability to be released while their cases were sorted out. After receiving his law degree from Drake University Law School, Dan immediately began practicing and working with the ACLU.
At the age of 30, Dan successfully argued the landmark U.S. Supreme Court free speech case, “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District” (“the black armband case”) which established free speech rights for students in public schools. Dan also argued “In re Legislative Districting” before the Iowa Supreme Court which established that Iowa’s Congressional districts may not be gerrymandered.
Dan served a term in the Iowa General Assembly in from 1967-68 and later served as the Polk County Attorney from 1977 – 1985.
Dan was an avid Sailor and a member of the Harlem Yacht Club in New York City where he lived from 1972 until 1977 and from 1985 until 2012. While in New York, Dan served on the board of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and the New York police complaint review board. Dan also spent time in Washington D.C., working for the National Center for State Courts and on the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Dan continued to practice after returning to Iowa in 2012 with the Law firm Glazebrook, Moe, & Hurd, LLP. Along with his colleague Joseph Glazebrook and attorneys from Lambda Legal, Dan succeeded in bringing about important reforms to Iowa’s badly outdated HIV laws.
Dan is survived by his lifelong friend, Randall James and his Godson Philip Hedges.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his companion, Norman Jesse in 2000.
Dan will be laid to rest with his parents at Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Obituary & photo published by Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home∼Dan was the son of Orie Daniel Johnston & Vera Pearl Dunwoody. He attended the public schools in Marshalltown and Toledo before earning a bachelor's degree from Westmar College, attending Iowa State University, and earning a law degree from Drake University Law School.
He served as an assistant Iowa attorney general before being elected to the Iowa House in 1966. Rather than seek re-election in 1968, he ran for Iowa Attorney General, winning the Democratic nomination before losing the general election to Republican Richard C. Turner. In 1975, he began working for the National Center for State Courts.
He was elected Polk County attorney in 1976, serving from 1977 to 1985, when he decided to resign and move to New York City. In New York, he served as director of Gay Men's Health Crisis from 1987 to 1990 and on the New York police civilian complaint review board from 1986 to 1990. He then lived in Washington, D.C. and worked as general counsel for the criminal justice subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Tinker v. Des Moines
Johnston's highest profile case as a lawyer was Tinker v. Des Moines, a case about the free speech rights of two Des Moines public school students who wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were subsequently suspended by school administrators. Johnston argued and won the case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969, when he was just over a year out of law school.
Dan was gay; his partner for more than 35 years was Norman Jesse (findagrave #157982463), who also served in the Iowa House. They met as students in Drake Law School. Neither Johnston nor Jesse was publicly out as gay during their careers in politics, however. They even maintained separate residences across the street from each other, and rarely spent the night together in the same bed. Norman Jesse died in 2000.
In 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Iowa presented the 2014 Louise Noun Award to Dan L. Johnston. The Noun award is named after Louise Noun, the distinguished Des Moines activist, philanthropist, and former president of the ACLU of Iowa Board of Directors. It is given to those who have made significant contributions or displayed uncommon courage on behalf of civil liberties in the state of Iowa. Dan Johnston richly fits that description.
Dan L. Johnston died Friday, October 21, 2016 of cancer at the age of 78.
He was born on April 6, 1938 in Montezuma Iowa to Orie and Vera Johnston.
Dan was a staunch advocate for the civil rights of others. Even before he became a lawyer, Dan began working to set up the pretrial release project in Polk County, allowing indigent persons accused of crimes the ability to be released while their cases were sorted out. After receiving his law degree from Drake University Law School, Dan immediately began practicing and working with the ACLU.
At the age of 30, Dan successfully argued the landmark U.S. Supreme Court free speech case, “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District” (“the black armband case”) which established free speech rights for students in public schools. Dan also argued “In re Legislative Districting” before the Iowa Supreme Court which established that Iowa’s Congressional districts may not be gerrymandered.
Dan served a term in the Iowa General Assembly in from 1967-68 and later served as the Polk County Attorney from 1977 – 1985.
Dan was an avid Sailor and a member of the Harlem Yacht Club in New York City where he lived from 1972 until 1977 and from 1985 until 2012. While in New York, Dan served on the board of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and the New York police complaint review board. Dan also spent time in Washington D.C., working for the National Center for State Courts and on the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Dan continued to practice after returning to Iowa in 2012 with the Law firm Glazebrook, Moe, & Hurd, LLP. Along with his colleague Joseph Glazebrook and attorneys from Lambda Legal, Dan succeeded in bringing about important reforms to Iowa’s badly outdated HIV laws.
Dan is survived by his lifelong friend, Randall James and his Godson Philip Hedges.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his companion, Norman Jesse in 2000.
Dan will be laid to rest with his parents at Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Obituary & photo published by Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home∼Dan was the son of Orie Daniel Johnston & Vera Pearl Dunwoody. He attended the public schools in Marshalltown and Toledo before earning a bachelor's degree from Westmar College, attending Iowa State University, and earning a law degree from Drake University Law School.
He served as an assistant Iowa attorney general before being elected to the Iowa House in 1966. Rather than seek re-election in 1968, he ran for Iowa Attorney General, winning the Democratic nomination before losing the general election to Republican Richard C. Turner. In 1975, he began working for the National Center for State Courts.
He was elected Polk County attorney in 1976, serving from 1977 to 1985, when he decided to resign and move to New York City. In New York, he served as director of Gay Men's Health Crisis from 1987 to 1990 and on the New York police civilian complaint review board from 1986 to 1990. He then lived in Washington, D.C. and worked as general counsel for the criminal justice subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Tinker v. Des Moines
Johnston's highest profile case as a lawyer was Tinker v. Des Moines, a case about the free speech rights of two Des Moines public school students who wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were subsequently suspended by school administrators. Johnston argued and won the case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969, when he was just over a year out of law school.
Dan was gay; his partner for more than 35 years was Norman Jesse (findagrave #157982463), who also served in the Iowa House. They met as students in Drake Law School. Neither Johnston nor Jesse was publicly out as gay during their careers in politics, however. They even maintained separate residences across the street from each other, and rarely spent the night together in the same bed. Norman Jesse died in 2000.
In 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Iowa presented the 2014 Louise Noun Award to Dan L. Johnston. The Noun award is named after Louise Noun, the distinguished Des Moines activist, philanthropist, and former president of the ACLU of Iowa Board of Directors. It is given to those who have made significant contributions or displayed uncommon courage on behalf of civil liberties in the state of Iowa. Dan Johnston richly fits that description.
He was born on April 6, 1938 in Montezuma Iowa to Orie and Vera Johnston.
Dan was a staunch advocate for the civil rights of others. Even before he became a lawyer, Dan began working to set up the pretrial release project in Polk County, allowing indigent persons accused of crimes the ability to be released while their cases were sorted out. After receiving his law degree from Drake University Law School, Dan immediately began practicing and working with the ACLU.
At the age of 30, Dan successfully argued the landmark U.S. Supreme Court free speech case, “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District” (“the black armband case”) which established free speech rights for students in public schools. Dan also argued “In re Legislative Districting” before the Iowa Supreme Court which established that Iowa’s Congressional districts may not be gerrymandered.
Dan served a term in the Iowa General Assembly in from 1967-68 and later served as the Polk County Attorney from 1977 – 1985.
Dan was an avid Sailor and a member of the Harlem Yacht Club in New York City where he lived from 1972 until 1977 and from 1985 until 2012. While in New York, Dan served on the board of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and the New York police complaint review board. Dan also spent time in Washington D.C., working for the National Center for State Courts and on the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Dan continued to practice after returning to Iowa in 2012 with the Law firm Glazebrook, Moe, & Hurd, LLP. Along with his colleague Joseph Glazebrook and attorneys from Lambda Legal, Dan succeeded in bringing about important reforms to Iowa’s badly outdated HIV laws.
Dan is survived by his lifelong friend, Randall James and his Godson Philip Hedges.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his companion, Norman Jesse in 2000.
Dan will be laid to rest with his parents at Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Obituary & photo published by Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home∼Dan was the son of Orie Daniel Johnston & Vera Pearl Dunwoody. He attended the public schools in Marshalltown and Toledo before earning a bachelor's degree from Westmar College, attending Iowa State University, and earning a law degree from Drake University Law School.
He served as an assistant Iowa attorney general before being elected to the Iowa House in 1966. Rather than seek re-election in 1968, he ran for Iowa Attorney General, winning the Democratic nomination before losing the general election to Republican Richard C. Turner. In 1975, he began working for the National Center for State Courts.
He was elected Polk County attorney in 1976, serving from 1977 to 1985, when he decided to resign and move to New York City. In New York, he served as director of Gay Men's Health Crisis from 1987 to 1990 and on the New York police civilian complaint review board from 1986 to 1990. He then lived in Washington, D.C. and worked as general counsel for the criminal justice subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Tinker v. Des Moines
Johnston's highest profile case as a lawyer was Tinker v. Des Moines, a case about the free speech rights of two Des Moines public school students who wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were subsequently suspended by school administrators. Johnston argued and won the case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969, when he was just over a year out of law school.
Dan was gay; his partner for more than 35 years was Norman Jesse (findagrave #157982463), who also served in the Iowa House. They met as students in Drake Law School. Neither Johnston nor Jesse was publicly out as gay during their careers in politics, however. They even maintained separate residences across the street from each other, and rarely spent the night together in the same bed. Norman Jesse died in 2000.
In 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Iowa presented the 2014 Louise Noun Award to Dan L. Johnston. The Noun award is named after Louise Noun, the distinguished Des Moines activist, philanthropist, and former president of the ACLU of Iowa Board of Directors. It is given to those who have made significant contributions or displayed uncommon courage on behalf of civil liberties in the state of Iowa. Dan Johnston richly fits that description.
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