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James Johnson's Mistake Was Not Immediately Hiring A Lawyer, and Exhibiting Too Much Trust in the Justice System, NC NAACP Says

Media Coverage: "Johnson Gets PJC for Acts After Teen's Death," News and Observer.

At the Feb. 18 press conference, Irving Joyner, attorney for James Johnson, explains the unusual "Alford plea" in which Johnson did not admit guilt but simply acknowledged that the court might have enough evidence to convict him of being an accessory after the fact in the murder of Britney Willis of Wilson. It is not a conviction. Rev. Barber adds that the only mistake that Johnson made was that he did not take a lawyer with him when he went to authorities to reveal that Kenneth Meeks had murdered Britney Willis. He was too trusting that the system would not place him in legal jeopardy, though he broke the "no snitch" rule of the street. This clip is about one and a half minutes in length.

 

Watch this clip on USTREAM.COM.

Rev. Barber: James Johnson Case Is An Enduring Example of Prosecutorial Misconduct

James Johnson should have never been charged with murder or accessory after the fact of murder, Rev. William J. Barber, president of the NC NAACP, stated in a press conference on Feb. 18:

The first clip is about three minutes in length:

Erick Daniels Freed for Crime He Did Not Commit

Erick Daniels of Durham, who has served seven years in prison for a robbery, has been freed for a crime he did not commit. See "Man Walks Free After Seven Years in Prison" in the News and Observer. Sidebar: Durham Prosecutors Take Another Hit. Photo Gallery.

"Finally Free" in the NC Independent.  

• "A Time for Our Anger," column by Barry Saunders in the News and Observer. "Daniels, like most of the cats I've talked to who did stretches for crimes they didn't commit, was free of anger. We shouldn't be."
• News and Observer Reporter Was Jailed for Investigating Potential Prosecutorial Misconduct in the Erick Daniels Case
• Carl Kinney's 2007 blog post on Erick Daniels:  "Many may say so what to all of this. It’s big news because despite the coverage on the case it wasn’t enough to land the type of attention that would prevent prosecutorial misconduct. The media circus created by the Duke Lacrosse rape case proves how race, power and money can influence the legal process. Most people in Durham, NC are unaware of what happened to Erick Daniels. Everyone in the country knows what happened at 610 Buchanan St."

NC Legislative Black Caucus Backs Resolution on James Johnson

The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus of 27 legislators of African American heritage passed the attached resolution protesting the continuing persecution of a young Wilson man, James Johnson, by the State of North Carolina.

“James Johnson, his family, the NAACP, and the social justice family in North Carolina, all join the Legislative Black Caucus in sending our deepest sympathies to the family of Brittany Willis,” said Rev. William J. Barber, President of the N.C. State Conference of the NAACP.

When Will We Say 'Enough' to Racial Injustice?

Rev. Dr. William Barber, President of the NC NAACP: "Another Black man has barely escaped execution by our State Government because of gross mistakes and prejudice in our criminal 'justice' system.  That makes three North Carolina Black men in the past five months who, but for the grace of God, would have been wrongly executed in our name. How long will we let these injustices in our name continue?  When will we say Enough?" Read the whole thing.  

Congressman G.K. Butterfield Demands Federal Investigation of Prosecutorial Misconduct in James Johnson Case, Due to 'Failure of Government'

Statement of Rev. Dr. William Barber:

I bring to your attention a remarkable letter from a true public servant—Cong. G. K. Butterfield.  We welcome his call for a federal investigation of the Wilson prosecutors who held an innocent young man, James Johnson, in jail for 39 months with no basis, other than an angry young man who was mad because James had broken the no-snitch rule. The federal investigation should be coordinated with the N.C. State Bar investigation that is determining whether prosecutors violated their professional duty to act as Ministers of Justice.

We also welcome Cong. Butterfield’s humanity—his reaching out to the two families who have been wronged by State’s sloppy handling of this case.  He is the first public official we are aware of who has publicly expressed his regrets and condolences to the Willis and Johnson families. Having served as a Judge in the Wilson County Courthouse for several years before representing it in Congress, he is uniquely qualified to speak to this issue. The admission of wrong-doing is always the first step toward redemption and reconciliation.

NAACP Demands Dismissal of Last Ditch Effort to Smear Johnson's Name and Future

By the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, NC NAACP

and Al McSurely, NC NAACP Legal Redress Chair

We have always and still do express concern, sympathy, and pray for the loss of Brittany Willis and the grief of her family.  Our fight from day one has been against the system that would mislead the community, the family, and wrongly incarcerate an innocent young man. The State has dismissed all the charges on which it held James Johnson in jail for 39 months until September 2, 2007.   The State has filed a new charge, however, of Accessory After the Fact. 

Letter to State Officials on Behalf of James Johnson

On December 31, 2007, NC NAACP President William Barber wrote a letter to state officials on behalf of James Johnson:

James Johnson Re-indicted as Accessory After the Fact; Rally in Wilson for Full Exoneration; Why We Must Continue to Advocate On Johnson's Behalf

UPDATE: "Johnson Indicted As Accessory After the Fact," Channel 11 WTVD. "James Johnson Indicted on Accessory Murder Charge," WRAL.com. "Johnson Indicted on New Charge in Death," News and Observer.com.

The NC NAACP organized a rally and march in Wilson, N.C. on Sunday, January 13 for the full exoneration of James Johnson, a young man who has already served more than three years in jail without trial for a crime he did not commit. The charges were dropped just before Christmas, but young Johnson has been re-charged with the crime of accessory to murder AFTER THE FACT.

UPDATE: Watch coverage of the rally and march on NBC17.com. Watch coverage of the rally and march on News14. "

Spread the Word; download the attached flyer and dissimate to all who might be interested at churches or community organizations.

Download 08_flier_chapel.pdf

Instead of judging the case on "feelings" and speculation, citizens interested in the James Johnson case would do well to read the actual court documents in which the confessed murderer, his attorney, and a psychologist exonerate Johnson in the murder of Brittany Willis. Click to read court documents posted on WRAL.com. 

Just before Christmas, Rev. Dr. William Barber released the following statement on the need to continue to advocate for justice for James Johnson. The statement follows:

On December 19, this marvelous young man, James Johnson, was exonerated of murder, rape, and kidnapping charges for which he should  never have been charged. Never should he have served more than 42 months -- more than three and a half years -- in jail without a trail for something he did not do.

Major Victory in the James Johnson Case

Statement from the Rev. Dr.  William Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP:

"The light of Christmas has shown on the dark nightmare that James Johnson has suffered for 42 months in a false incarceration on murder, rape, and kidnapping charges without a trial. Tonight the special prosecutor dismissed all murder, rape and kidnaping charges against him. It is a major victory for truth and justice.

"James is an innocent young man who was falsely accused. It is not yet a total victory because one count of accessory remains, but we will celebrate tonight, and pick up the fight tomorrow for James' full exoneration tomorrow."

Drill Deeper:

• "Prosecutor Drops Murder Charges Against Johnson," Wilson Daily Times.
• Press Release from Assistant District Attorney Belinda Foster Announcing Dropping of Charges Against James Johnson
• WRAL-TV coverage of the James Johnson Case
• News and Observer coverage of the James Johnson Case