House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican congressman from Louisiana, was previously the dean of a failed Baptist law school. The Judge Paul Pressler School of Law was intended to be a prestigious institution that embraced a biblical worldview. However, it faced numerous challenges, including infighting among officials, financial impropriety allegations, and difficulty obtaining accreditation. Johnson, who had no known political background at the time, navigated these challenges, providing insight into his leadership style. While there is no evidence of wrongdoing on Johnson’s part, the failed law school highlights his ties to the Christian right, a dominant force in GOP politics.
The law school’s establishment was part of Louisiana College’s grand ambitions, which included opening a medical school and a film school. Johnson’s role as the inaugural dean involved fundraising and organizing high-profile events. However, the school faced financial difficulties, lawsuits, and the denial of accreditation, which ultimately led to its collapse. Johnson resigned in 2012 and returned to litigating for conservative Christian causes.
The school was named after Judge Paul Pressler, a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist Convention. Pressler himself has been accused of sexual assault in a civil case that sparked a broader reckoning within the convention over handling claims of abuse. Johnson continued to represent the college in a case challenging a birth control mandate in the Affordable Care Act.
Johnson’s personal background includes growing up in a traditional Christian household and experiencing tragedy when his father was injured in a workplace accident. He and his wife have been advocates for covenant marriages, which make divorce more difficult to obtain. Johnson graduated from Louisiana State University with a law degree and became involved in conservative politics during the 1996 Senate campaign of Woody Jenkins.
Throughout his career, Johnson has been recognized for his contributions to conservative causes and his close ties to influential figures within the Christian right. His ascension to House speaker has been celebrated by fellow conservatives as evidence of God’s work in American politics.
