Mike Johnson on Law School
TL;DR
Mike Johnson served as the dean for a proposed Christian law school that ultimately never opened or enrolled any students.
Key Points
Mike Johnson was named the "founding dean" of the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law in August 2010.
The law school, intended for Louisiana College, never opened and failed to secure accreditation to issue juris doctorate degrees.
He resigned from the dean position in the fall of 2012 after the proposed school collapsed without enrolling students.
Summary
Mike Johnson’s direct engagement with law school education centers on his role as the inaugural dean of the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law at Louisiana College, which was intended to embrace a biblical worldview. Hired in 2010, his tenure was marked by significant administrative turmoil, fundraising difficulties, and struggles to obtain necessary accreditation for the institution. The proposed law school ultimately collapsed about a decade ago without ever enrolling a single student or opening its doors for instruction.
The failure of the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law occurred amid larger institutional issues at Louisiana College, including faculty resignations and lawsuits against the college president regarding financial impropriety. Johnson resigned in the fall of 2012, returning to his work as an attorney for conservative Christian advocacy groups. While the episode provides context on his past leadership challenges, sources indicate there is no evidence he engaged in any wrongdoing during his time involved with the defunct institution.
Key Quotes
“The law school deal was really an anomaly,” said Gene Mills, a longtime friend of Johnson's. “It was a great idea. But due to issues that were out of Mike's hands that came unraveled.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Mike Johnson served as the inaugural dean for the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law, which was planned for Louisiana College. He was hired in 2010 with the goal of establishing a Christian-focused legal institution.
No, the law school that Mike Johnson was set to lead never opened its doors. It struggled with fundraising and ultimately could not obtain accreditation to grant law degrees.
He resigned as dean in the fall of 2012, approximately two years after taking the role. This followed the collapse of the law school project amid internal conflict and accreditation issues.
Sources5
House Speaker Mike Johnson was once the dean of a Christian law school. It never opened its doors
Mike Johnson was dean of law school that never opened
Mike Johnson - Wikipedia
House Speaker Mike Johnson was once the dean of a Christian law school. It never opened its doors
Mike Johnson was part of push for Louisiana's fifth law school
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.