Now, as she has been appointed Chief Justice, another judge, Justice Jeffrey Victory, who happens to be white, argued that he should get the job of Chief Justice, not Bernette Johnson, likely because of the way she was appointed. Victory became a high court justice one year after Johnson. He, along with two other judges, were removed from their places on the bench while the appointment of Judge Johnson took place. Three state appeals judges sat in their places instead.
Justice Bernette Johnson will take over after Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball in the early part of next year.
