Meet 27-year-old Hanif Johnson, Youngest District Judge Elected in Pennsylvania

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Hanif Johnson has had quite a path and story. At 27 he’s not only making strides but making history and inspiring young people along the way.

Hanif Johnson is accomplished

Johnson won the seat in the general election for the Dauphin County Magisterial District in Pennsylvania on Election Day last year, becoming the youngest Magisterial District Judge in the state.

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native began his term in January and will preside over cases within the predominately black state capital.

“Everybody always says, well, we complain about stuff, but we never get up and do anything. This is me getting up and doing something.”

Johnson is no stranger to the other side of the law but used his past experience to make a difference.

The Huffpost reports:

He has been to jail three times and ran through the streets as a teenager before he discovered his passion: track and field. “One day, I decided this ain’t the way I want to live my life, so I started running track. Track actually saved my life,” Johnson said, later becoming a state champion. Johnson currently coaches track and field at Harrisburg High School.

As a student at Penn State University, Johnson ran afoul of the law again, this time as a member of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. While he was president of the fraternity, he was charged in connection with hazing allegations. “I went to jail for two weeks, then I went to trial. Thank God I won,” Johnson recalled. “That was one of the happiest days; I just felt like my life was going to be taken from me.”

“It’s crazy because I know how it feels sitting across from that judge and that jury when you’re innocent,” he said. 

Now, Johnson has an opportunity to make a difference. “Being that I live in that area, they know me, I know the people, I know what’s going on,” the father of one said. “You have single moms that can’t pay a parking ticket; I have the control to make life easier for her, rather than someone from out of town who don’t understand that $100 ticket might be too much for her and she ends up in jail over that ticket.”

Johnson told the Huffington Post his win provided energy in the area to run for in the area to run local government positions such as city council and school boards.
“A lot of people came out the house and voted just because I was running,” he said. “If you want to do something and make a change, then just go out and do it.”

A magisterial district judge is a position elected by residents. A law degree isn’t required for the role; district judges receive training that prepares them for the legal issues they will face and must pass an examination before taking office. They handle traffic citations, minor criminal cases and determine if cases are either thrown out or go on to the Court of Common Pleas, where major cases are heard.

Congratulations Hanif Johnson!