Vard R. Johnson
Sole Practitioner
PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1995 to present; Board of Governors, 1999-2000; Lecturer at Annual Conference in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2010; Mentor on H-2A and H-2B visas, 2006 to present
- Advisory Committee, Salvation Army of Omaha, 192-2004; Chairperson - Bequests and Endowment Committee, 1995-1998
- Board of Directors, City Mission Society, Boston, Massachusetetts, 2007-2009
- Board of Directors, Nebraska Appleseed Foundation, 1996-2004; President, 1998-2000; The Foundation is a public interest law firm initiated by Ralph Nader
- Board of Directors, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, 1997-2003. the Foundation is a Nebraska organization created to received public funds through the federal Families Preservation Act and private funds to distribute to local communities for the enhancement of the lives of at risk children.
- Board of Directors, Douglas County Historical Society, 1990-1998; President, 1996-1998
- Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Wittenberg College, 1991; Bates College, 1993; Illinois College, 1996, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1999
Areas of Practice
- Immigration & Naturalization Law
Bar Admissions
- Nebraska, 1964
- U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 1964
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 2005
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1968
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1974
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2003
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 2008
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1975
Education
- Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- LL.B. - 1964
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- B.A. - 1960
Representative Cases
- State v. Utterback, 485 N.W. 2d 760 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1992)
- Crewdsen v. Burlilngton Norther RR Co., 452 N.W. 2d 270 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1990)
- Wachtel v. Beer, 389 N.W. 2d 269 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1986)
- Birkel v. Hassebrook Farm Services, 363 N.W. 2d 148 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1985)
- Gates v. Howell, 317 N.W. 2d 772 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1982)
- Edmunds v. Edwards, 287 N.W. 2d 269 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1980)
- In re Interest of Caha, 237 N.W. 2d 870 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1976)
- Godden & Ideus v Nebraska Department of Public Welfare, 226 N.W. 2d 627 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1975)
- Tang v. Chertoff, 493 F. Supp. 2d 148 (D. Mass. 2007)
- Shalan v. Chertoff, 2006 WL 42143; U.S. District LEXIS 253 (D. Mass. 2006)
Honors and Awards
- Order of the Tower, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1991
- Award of Special Merit, Nebraska State Bar Association, 1982
- Outstanding Service to Farmers, Center for Rural Affairs, 1986
- Sower of Nebraska Award, Nebraska Democratic Party, 1990
- Service to Children Award, Nebraska Academy of Pediatrics, 1985
- Public Citizen of the Year, National Association of Social Workers, Nebraska Chapter, 1988
- Outstanding Service to the Legal Profession, Creighton University, Student Bar Association, 1973
- AV Rating, Martindale-Hubble, 1980 - Present
- Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary), University of Nebraska, 2007
Past Employment Positions
- Nebraska State Legislature, State Senator, 1979 - 1988
- Creighton University Law School, Omaha, Nebraska, Visiting Professor and Lecturer in Administrative law, Criminal Law, and Agency, 1975-76.
- Creighton University Law School, Omaha, Nebraska, Adjunct Professor 1978-79, Poverty Law; 2001-2003, Legislation and the Legislative Process
- Dinebeiina Nahiilna Be Agaditahe, Inc., Deputy Director of Legal Services program on Navajo Indian Reservation, 1967 - 1969
- Legal Aid Society of Omaha-Council Bluffs, Omaha, Nebraska, Staff Attorney and Director, 1969 - 1982
