Dedication Ceremony In Memory Of Deborah A. Johnston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                         at (410) 209-4885

DEDICATION CEREMONY IN MEMORY OF DEBORAH A. JOHNSTON

Baltimore/ Greenbelt, Maryland - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has the distinct honor of announcing the dedication of the main conference room in the Greenbelt Office of the Southern Division in memory of its former Chief, Deborah Ann Johnston. The dedication will take place Friday, January 19, 2018 at 4 p.m. at the United States Attorney’s Office in Greenbelt, steps away from the office where Debbie worked until her untimely death on November 1, 2017, at the age of 64. 

Deborah Ann Johnston was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Holy Name High School in Reading, Penn. in 1971. After high school, she attended Catholic University, where she graduated with a B.A. in Economics, followed by her J.D. Debbie served as a judicial law clerk in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. Debbie began her career at the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office in 1988 and was eventually promoted to Chief of the Homicide/Narcotics Unit and then named Deputy State’s Attorney. During her time at the State’s Attorney’s Office, Debbie successful prosecuted high-profile defendants including Kirk Bruce, and Alphonso Quinn.

In November 1994, Debbie began her career at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Highly decorated and honored, during her 23 years in federal service, she served as Chief  of the Southern Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, as Associate Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice, and as Senior Litigation Counsel for now Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein.

Debbie’s cases at the United States Attorney’s Office included dismantling narcotics organizations and prosecuting large multi-defendant drug cases such as Borda, Osorio, Nicholson, Bivins, Hernandez, Changtin, Minnick, Paulette Martin and Omar Steele et al.  Though Debbie’s work in narcotic cases was legendary, she also expertly handled capital murder, drug diversion, kidnaping, and fraud cases.  Her last trial, in January 2017, resulted in the conviction of a well-known Philadelphia criminal defense attorney for money laundering and obstruction of justice. 

Indeed, some of Debbie’s notable prosecutions included her work on death penalty cases which led who to the successful prosecution of the sole two death row defendants in the District of Maryland, ensuring that the interests of the United States were fully vindicated.   One of those cases, against Dustin Higgs and Willis Mark Haynes involved the notorious execution of three innocent young girls found dead in the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in 1996. 

Debbie’s sustained exceptional performance in the most complex and difficult cases over the years was unmatched.   She worked tirelessly, putting in long hours, and seven-day work weeks.  She was the epitome of a dedicated public servant. 

Debbie was the first active prosecutor and the second female trial lawyer in Maryland to be offered fellowship in the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers, whose membership is offered "only by invitation, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality."

Debbie also spent years teaching criminal procedure for undergraduate students at the University of Maryland, where she was highly regarded and sought by students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.  

Debbie’s trial skills were well known.   She had instant credibility with judges and juries.  Though a zealous advocate for the United States, Debbie’s reputation was as a fair and honorable litigant.

Debbie is greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues.  The United States Attorney’s Office celebrates her life and her contribution to the community through the naming of the Deborah A. Johnston conference room.