A retirement party for Statesboro Municipal Court Judge J. Lane Johnston will be held Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. in the Municipal Court Building (old police station at 22 West Grady Street).
Johnston, 79, has been the Statesboro Municipal Court Judge since July, 1991. Before that he was the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney from 1968 to 1991; and served as the Solicitor of the City Court of Bulloch County (now known as state court.)
An honor graduate of Statesboro High School Class of 1948, Johnston achieved an A.B. in chemistry and biology at Emory University in 1951 before attending the University of Georgia School of Law, from which he graduated in 1954. Johnston was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1955.
He practiced with Hatcher Law Firm in Columbus from 1955-1961. He entered private practice in 1961, working until 1968, when he became district attorney.
Johnston has also served as a member, secretary and vice chairman for the Georgia Board of Public Safety (1972-1991), and he served as member and chairman for the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (1974-1991). In 1990, Johnston was named "Man of the Decade" for criminal justice for the state of Georgia.
Johnston is married to Jan Thomas Johnston, and the couple has four adult children: Mary Day Johnston Widner, Thornton Johnston, Jan Johnston Moore, and Jim Johnston.
He is currently a member of the Statesboro First United Methodist Church and has served in the past as vice chairman of the Administrative Board, choir leader, and lay speaker in the Southern Conference; Sunday School leader and speaker. Johnston is also currently president of the Bulloch County Methodist Men's Club.
The party is open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend, said Municipal Court Clerk Donna Bradley. For more information call (912) 764-7574.
Johnston, 79, has been the Statesboro Municipal Court Judge since July, 1991. Before that he was the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney from 1968 to 1991; and served as the Solicitor of the City Court of Bulloch County (now known as state court.)
An honor graduate of Statesboro High School Class of 1948, Johnston achieved an A.B. in chemistry and biology at Emory University in 1951 before attending the University of Georgia School of Law, from which he graduated in 1954. Johnston was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1955.
He practiced with Hatcher Law Firm in Columbus from 1955-1961. He entered private practice in 1961, working until 1968, when he became district attorney.
Johnston has also served as a member, secretary and vice chairman for the Georgia Board of Public Safety (1972-1991), and he served as member and chairman for the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (1974-1991). In 1990, Johnston was named "Man of the Decade" for criminal justice for the state of Georgia.
Johnston is married to Jan Thomas Johnston, and the couple has four adult children: Mary Day Johnston Widner, Thornton Johnston, Jan Johnston Moore, and Jim Johnston.
He is currently a member of the Statesboro First United Methodist Church and has served in the past as vice chairman of the Administrative Board, choir leader, and lay speaker in the Southern Conference; Sunday School leader and speaker. Johnston is also currently president of the Bulloch County Methodist Men's Club.
The party is open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend, said Municipal Court Clerk Donna Bradley. For more information call (912) 764-7574.