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Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Lacy Johnson is Indiana Lawyer’s Diversity Trailblazer for 2024 not only because of the impact he has had in Indiana as a longtime Indianapolis attorney and public affairs strategist but thanks as well to the influence he has wielded nationally as a key leader in the Democratic Party.
Johnson joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in 2021 after a long career as a partner at Ice Miller to help Taft make a bigger push into public affairs and lobbying locally and nationally. He is partner-in-charge of the law firm’s Washington, D.C., office and a member of the firm’s executive committee and Public Affairs Strategies Group.
Johnson served on President Joe Biden’s transition team in 2020 and was a member of Kamala Harris’ Midwest finance team when she ran for vice president. In 2021, Biden appointed Johnson to serve as at-large member of the Democratic National Committee. In 2023, Biden appointed him to serve on the President’s Export Council. He’s also a member of the Indiana Democratic Party’s State Central Committee.
During his career, Johnson has served on a long list of boards and commissions, including as past president of the Indianapolis Airport Authority and on the boards of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, Indiana University Foundation, Democratic Black Caucus PAC Board, the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute, American Red Cross National Diversity Advisory Council and Indiana University Foundation.
In 2018, Johnson and his wife made a $1.5 million gift to IU’s Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs to establish the Johnson Chair for Diversity and Leadership. The gift coincided with the establishment of the Black Philanthropy Circle, of which Johnson was a founding member.
Before he became an attorney, Johnson served as a lieutenant colonel in the Indiana State Police and was a lieutenant commander of the U.S. Naval Intelligence Reserves.
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
Mine was not a typical path. At the age of 7, I witnessed my father being detained by the police following an incident in our neighborhood. We found ourselves in need of an attorney and hired attorney Frank Hughes, who went on to serve as the Circuit Court Judge for Marion County. The charges were ultimately dismissed, but I remember the impact Judge Hughes had on our family during a very traumatic time. He stayed in touch with us throughout his life and submitted a letter of recommendation on my behalf when I applied to law school. His influence on my life and my family’s well-being shaped my career choice.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Treat people the way you want to be treated. I heard this in Sunday school lessons, but congresswoman Julia Carson lived it. I aspire to walk in her footsteps with each and every interaction.
How do you spend your free time?
My wife, Patty, and I have a son, Lacy III, who lives nearby, and we’re blessed with five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The majority of my free time is spent with my family and working with community organizations, including the Indiana University Foundation, Congressional Black Caucus, Madam Walker Legacy Center, NAACP, IndyGo, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and various publicly traded corporate boards.
What was your favorite – and least favorite – class in law school?
Favorite: Property law
Least Favorite: Criminal law
What does “diversity, equity and inclusion” mean to you?
Embracing diverse perspectives, cultures and life experiences.
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