At a recent commission meeting, County Attorney Mike Olsen gave special recognition to Judge Scott Johansen who retired last year. He presented a plaque and gifts to Judge Johansen. Olsen said, “We are grateful for your service and thank you for your years of service.
Judge Johansen retired last year after 24 years of service. Prior to that he was the Emery County Attorney for 13 years. He presided in juvenile court, drug court for Emery and Carbon counties. He was the 2014 chancellors medallion recipient from USU Eastern. He is a graduate of the J. Reuben Clark school of law at Brigham Young University. He practiced with the Price law firm of Frandsen, Keller & Jensen from 1977 to 1979.
He served as the city attorney for many towns in Carbon, Emery and Sanpete counties. He is a past president of Utah Association of Counties. He worked to transform the juvenile justice system.
Judge Johansen is a past chair of the Board of Juvenile Court Judges, past chair of the Judicial Council’s Policy and Planning Committee, past member of the Sentencing Commission and the Judicial Council.
He emphasized education with all juvenile offenders and insisted they graduate from high school. He is the son of the late Eugene and Grace Johansen. He and his wife Laurel have 20 grandchildren with number 21 due in November. He is a survivor of leukemia. He is always accompanied by his grandchildren on the farm and other activities. He was the instigator for the paddle board fights recently at Bear Lake. He is working on converting the farm from flood irrigation to sprinklers. He is an avid story teller and the stories range from cows to prosecuting criminals. He enjoys delivering the black Hereford bulls around the country. His family believes it is a miracle they still have Judge Johansen after his fight with leukemia.
Judge Johansen said, “I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve.”
A number of former colleagues, family and friends were in attendance at commission meeting as the presentation was made to honor Judge Johansen.
Judge Johansen receives recognition at meeting
Judge Johansen receives recognition at commission meeting. He was a local judge and lawyer for the past 40 years. Patsy Stoddard, Editor