Kentucky

From the Herald Leader,

Former Fayette County judge Joe Johnson dies at 77

Mr. Johnson died Friday in Florida. He was 77.

Joe Johnson was "bigger than life," those who knew him said.

While serving as Fayette County judge in the 1960s, he declared open season on armed robbers, announcing that county police had orders to shoot them. He barred a local newspaper reporter from juvenile court because he didn't like a story she wrote. He cited a lawyer who couldn't recite the Fifth Amendment for contempt. He ordered local country clubs to stop selling liquor on Sundays. And he chased down Lexington financier Garvice Kincaid and ticketed him for speeding.

"He had this cowboy image, but he was a thoroughly honorable, forthright trustworthy man," said Michael S. Brown, a Lexington bloodstock consultant and longtime friend.

Mr. Johnson was born in Lexington in 1930 but spent his early years in Perry County, where his family had coal interests. His family moved to Lexington when he was 13. He graduated from Woodberry Forest, a Virginia prep school, then attended the University of Virginia. He transferred to the University of Kentucky, but left after a semester and joined the Air Force. He returned to UK 31/2 years later and earned a law degree in 1958. Then he went back to Perry County to take over his family's coal business.