Ericka A. Johnson

Ericka Johnson is an associate in the Government Investigations & White Collar Practice. She previously served for six years as Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), where she specialized in complex litigation and providing international legal advice to general officers.

While in the USMC, Ericka was responsible for all facets of investigating and defending Marines accused of misdemeanor and felony violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. She represented clients accused of crimes in Jordan, Guantanamo Bay, Spain, Afghanistan, Japan, the Philippines and North America, and litigated nine jury trials, including five major felony cases, more than 40 administrative hearings and multiple guilty hearings.

She conducted hundreds of witness interviews, routinely prepared clients and witnesses for live testimony, and zealously pursued discovery and engaged in motions practice to challenge and limit the evidence used against her clients.

She served as the theatre-wide legal expert and authority on operational issues in Afghanistan, as well as the primary legal advisor to NATO and US combat commanding generals. She advised NATO executives on the legal ramifications and international / domestic legalities and policies for the planning and execution of more than 980 US and NATO led operations, and analyzed and drafted substantive legal memoranda regarding various international and operational law policies for the commander, joint staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Ericka served on the general counsel staff to the commanding general of the South Pacific. There, she interpreted and applied Japanese-American agreements for the Department of Defense throughout the South Pacific, provided legal guidance on the Status of Forces Agreement regarding government contract-related and environmental law issues affecting military installations, and advised on ethical issues related to gifts, travel and the use of government resources.