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His third book, published by Rutgers University Press, is ''Battleground New Jersey: Vanderbilt, Hague and Their Fight for Justice'', and is about Jersey City Mayor [[Frank Hague]] and [[Arthur T. Vanderbilt]], first chief justice of New Jersey’s modern Supreme Court.<ref>Michael Clark, "Author Nelson Johnson strikes gold with infamous Atlantic City characters "[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/blogs/boardwalk_empire/article_9420a56c-a814-11df-a495-001cc4c002e0.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/somerset-county/2015/01/16/judge-details-state-politics-history-book/21866329/ "Judge details state politics history in book]"]. ''MyCentralJersey''. Katie Park January 16, 2015</ref>
His third book, published by Rutgers University Press, is ''Battleground New Jersey: Vanderbilt, Hague and Their Fight for Justice'', and is about Jersey City Mayor [[Frank Hague]] and [[Arthur T. Vanderbilt]], first chief justice of New Jersey’s modern Supreme Court.<ref>Michael Clark, "Author Nelson Johnson strikes gold with infamous Atlantic City characters "[http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/blogs/boardwalk_empire/article_9420a56c-a814-11df-a495-001cc4c002e0.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/somerset-county/2015/01/16/judge-details-state-politics-history-book/21866329/ "Judge details state politics history in book]"]. ''MyCentralJersey''. Katie Park January 16, 2015</ref>

On May 17, 2023, his next book Style ''& Persuasion, A Handbook for Lawyers,'' will be officially released at the annual N.J. Bar Association Convention

'''Speaker'''

Johnson speaks regularly on his books before diverse audiences. On May 7, 2011, Johnson addressed the graduating class of Stockton University, at which time he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. On May 21, 2015, Johnson, along with Terence Winter, Ed McGinty, Gretchen Mol, and Vincent Piazza spoke before a live audience in the main auditorium of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. On October 20, 2019, Johnson delivered a TEDx Talk on the need for universal public service in Cape May, New Jersey.<ref>{{Citation |title=Imagining Universal National Service {{!}} Nelson Johnson {{!}} TEDxCapeMay |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD7KQrpv8kc |access-date=2023-04-05 |language=en}}</ref>

== Awards for writing ''Boardwalk Empire'' and ''The Northside'' ==
1.    ''Boardwalk Empire'': Independent Publisher’s Award for best non-fiction on local history, 2010

2.    ''The Northside'': Independent Publisher’s Award for best African-American history, 2013

3.    Community Leader of the Year: awarded by the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce on 2-11-2011

4.    Spirit of Hospitality: awarded by Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority on May 19, 2011

5.    Artist of the Year 2012: awarded by the Town of Hammonton on September 29, 2012

6.    ''Boardwalk Empire'': recognition by U.S. National Archive at the Archive’s auditorium with Judge Johnson, Terence Winter, and several cast members of the HBO series, 2015


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:28, 5 April 2023

For the US ambassador to the republic of China in the 1930s, see Nelson T. Johnson.
Nelson Johnson
Born
Nelson Calvin Johnson

1948
Hammonton, New Jersey
Alma materSt. John's University (BS)
Villanova University (JD)
Occupation(s)Lawyer, author
Known forBoardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City

Nelson C. Johnson (born 1948) is an American author and former judge, lawyer and historian[1], best known for his 2002 New York Times bestseller, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City. His book served as the basis for the popular and Emmy Award-winning HBO period political crime drama TV series Boardwalk Empire.[2]

Early life

Nelson C. Johnson was born in 1948 and was raised in both Atlantic County, New Jersey and New York City. He attended St. John's University and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from there. He also went on to earn a JD from the law school of Villanova University.[3]

Johnson is a life-long resident of Hammonton, New Jersey.[4]

Career

Attorney

Johnson was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1974. He represented the Atlantic City Planning Board in the early 1980s. In explaining his motivation to write Boardwalk Empire, Johnson explained "It [City Hall] was dysfunctional and corrupt. I thought, in order to do my job here, I have to find out how it got this way. I didn't set out to write a book. I just wanted a better understanding."[5]

Prior to being appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court, Johnson represented South Jersey Publishing, owner of the Atlantic City Press for 20 years. Working with Press reporters, he succeeded in advancing New Jersey common law regarding the right to access public records. Johnson prevailed in two ground-breaking rulings that remain guideposts to judges and attorneys. Those decisions are South Jersey Publishing Co. vs N.J. Expressway Authority 124 N.J. 478 (1991)[6] and A.C. Convention Center Authority vs. South Jersey Publishing Co. 135 N.J. 53 (1994).

Judge

As a Trial Judge in the New Jersey Superior Court, Johnson handled all aspects of the civil docket, ranging from small claims and landlord-tenant matters to more than 200 jury trials. During his final 5 years, he presided over the Mass Torts docket involving thousands of product liability claims against pharmaceutical companies. During his tenure, he ruled on expert scientific testimony with far-reaching implications. On appeal, his opinion was sustained by the New Jersey Supreme Court in In Re: Accutane Litigation, 234 N.J. 340 (2018).[7] His ruling in In Re T. Keena, Transfer of Structured Settlement Proceeds, 442 N.J. Super. 393 (2015) is acknowledged as the first published opinion on the necessary criteria for trial judges when assessing the sale of the proceeds of a structured settlement by injured litigants who had previously settled their claims via a long-term payout. Johnson retired from his position as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge in September 2018.[8]

Public Service

Johnson has a life-long keen interest in public education. His experiences in public service began while still in law school. He was elected twice to the Hammonton Board of Education (1972-1976). During his tenure in 1973, he helped lead the successful campaign for approval of a public referendum to construct a new elementary school in his community. In 1999, as a private citizen, he co-chaired the committee that led the effort for approval of the referendum for the construction of a new high school in the Town of Hammonton.

Johnson was elected twice to the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners (formerly known as Freeholders) (1975-1979).[9] As a county commissioner, he co-sponsored Atlantic County's first Administrative Code, Code of Ethics, and Affirmative Action Ordinance.

From 1982-2000, Johnson taught a course for the Rutgers University Extension Service to dozens of local Planning and Zoning Boards throughout New Jersey on the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Act requirements.

Johnson taught Land Use Law at Widener University Law School from 1993-1995.

Author

Nelson's 2002 book Boardwalk Empire was the basis for the HBO drama series Boardwalk Empire.[5] Its sequel is The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City.[5][10]

His third book, published by Rutgers University Press, is Battleground New Jersey: Vanderbilt, Hague and Their Fight for Justice, and is about Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague and Arthur T. Vanderbilt, first chief justice of New Jersey’s modern Supreme Court.[11][12]

On May 17, 2023, his next book Style & Persuasion, A Handbook for Lawyers, will be officially released at the annual N.J. Bar Association Convention

Speaker

Johnson speaks regularly on his books before diverse audiences. On May 7, 2011, Johnson addressed the graduating class of Stockton University, at which time he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. On May 21, 2015, Johnson, along with Terence Winter, Ed McGinty, Gretchen Mol, and Vincent Piazza spoke before a live audience in the main auditorium of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. On October 20, 2019, Johnson delivered a TEDx Talk on the need for universal public service in Cape May, New Jersey.[13]

Awards for writing Boardwalk Empire and The Northside

1.    Boardwalk Empire: Independent Publisher’s Award for best non-fiction on local history, 2010

2.    The Northside: Independent Publisher’s Award for best African-American history, 2013

3.    Community Leader of the Year: awarded by the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce on 2-11-2011

4.    Spirit of Hospitality: awarded by Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority on May 19, 2011

5.    Artist of the Year 2012: awarded by the Town of Hammonton on September 29, 2012

6.    Boardwalk Empire: recognition by U.S. National Archive at the Archive’s auditorium with Judge Johnson, Terence Winter, and several cast members of the HBO series, 2015

References

  1. ^ "Author Nelson Johnson on NJ Political Corruption". steveadubato.org. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  2. ^ "Book review: Boardwalk Empire by Nelson Johnson". The Scotsman, 28 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Author Nelson Johnson strikes gold with infamous Atlantic City characters". The Press of Atlantic City.
  4. ^ "Judge Nelson Johnson: Atlantic City's Godfather". NEWJERSEYMONTHLY.COM, August 16, 2019
  5. ^ a b c "Author of 'Boardwalk Empire' helped historical book transition into dramatized crime series". BLOG.NJ.COM, September 19, 2010
  6. ^ "South Jersey Pub. v. NJ EXPRESSWAY". Justia Law. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  7. ^ "New Jersey state court rejects plaintiffs' experts in accutane litigation". Lexology. 2015-03-02. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  8. ^ Nelson Johnson – Audio Books, Best Sellers, Author Bio | Audible.com.
  9. ^ "Boardwalk Empire, by Nelson Johnson - 1625 Words | 123 Help Me". www.123helpme.com. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  10. ^ "Book Review: Johnson gets it right with tale of 'The Northside'". Press of Atlantic City. November 21, 2010 By PATRICIA REID-MERRITT,
  11. ^ Michael Clark, "Author Nelson Johnson strikes gold with infamous Atlantic City characters "[1]
  12. ^ "Judge details state politics history in book"]. MyCentralJersey. Katie Park January 16, 2015
  13. ^ Imagining Universal National Service | Nelson Johnson | TEDxCapeMay, retrieved 2023-04-05
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