Hon. Barbara R. Johnson-Lee ’86
Hon. Barbara R. Johnson-Lee ’86, elected a Buffalo City Court Judge in 2014, is now an Acting Judge for Erie County Court. Her judicial assignments have included domestic violence court, general civil and criminal rotations, and currently, she presides over the treatment courts—veterans, mental health, and drug court.
About this Interview
Interview Date(s)
April 11, 2025
Occasion
Recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for the Judiciary at the 62nd Annual Dinner
Interviewed By
Kerisha H. Hawthorne-Greer
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About Hon. Barbara R. Johnson-Lee
Judge Johnson Lee, born in Kingston, Jamaica, was one of nine children to Lucius and Gladys Johnson. Gladys, a U.S. Embassy employee, moved to the Bronx in pursuit of better opportunities for her children, sponsoring them to join her in groups. Johnson Lee arrived in the Bronx as a teenager before moving to White Plains for high school.
A counselor encouraged her to attend Canisius College, but she transferred to the University at Buffalo (UB) due to financial constraints. It was at UB that she discovered her interest in law, influenced by her mother’s employer, a Manhattan attorney. His law books and mentorship, coupled with childhood debates with her siblings and the TV show “Perry Mason,” sparked her passion. Johnson Lee directly entered the UB School of Law after graduation, feeling it was her only true calling. She credits her mother with instilling the work ethic, discipline, and empathy that have guided her career.
After passing the bar, she opened her own law office, which she ran for over 16 years. Her diverse legal experience, from matrimonial to criminal cases, was honed through mentorship with attorney Franklin Pratcher. She also served as a hearing officer in Buffalo City Court and a staff attorney at Legal Aid.
Becoming a judge was a lifelong goal, but family obligations delayed her pursuit. In 2014, she successfully ran for a seat on the Buffalo City Court bench. She now presides over treatment courts, including veterans, mental health, and drug courts, as well as the Judicial Diversion Program.
Johnson Lee considers becoming a judge her greatest professional achievement and loves the law for its pursuit of truth, justice, and fairness. She advises aspiring judges to seek mentorship and lawyers to prioritize preparation and integrity. A dedicated alumna, she serves on the UB School of Law alumni board and mentors students. Her daughter, Jamila Lee, followed in her footsteps, becoming the vice dean of student affairs at UB Law. For Judge Johnson Lee, law is a calling she would choose all over again for its power to make a positive difference in people’s lives.