Bill Text: MS HR12 | 2026 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Alice Marie Johnson; recognize and honor for service and accomplishments.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2026-01-20 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR12 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-HR12-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Remak
House Resolution 12
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING ALICE MARIE JOHNSON FOR HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND FOR BEING APPOINTED THE FIRST-EVER WHITE HOUSE PARDON CZAR BY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
WHEREAS, Alice Marie Johnson made history on February 20, 2025, when she was appointed the first-ever White House Pardon Czar by President Donald J. Trump; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Johnson grew up in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and she was the sixth of nine children born to Raymond Boggan and Sallie Mae Boggan, who were respected leaders in DeSoto County, Mississippi, and who were sharecroppers that later became business owners; and
WHEREAS, devoted to her family, Ms. Johnson is the proud mother of five children: Tretessa, Catina, Charles, Bryant and Cory, and is a grandmother and great-grandmother; and
WHEREAS, hardworking throughout her life, Ms. Johnson enjoyed a successful career in business and management, but in 1996, her world turned upside down when she made a terrible mistake, and she was convicted as a first-time nonviolent offender and sentenced to a mandatory life sentence without parole; and
WHEREAS, during her time in prison, Ms. Johnson became an ordained minister, hospice volunteer and wrote and directed original plays, which were seen by thousands of women, including staff and outside volunteers, and she was considered a model prisoner and mentored many women; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, Ms. Johnson's case caught the attention of Kim Kardashian, who advocated for her freedom after seeing a video op-ed of her, and Kim subsequently met with President Trump on Ms. Johnson's birthday, May 30, 2018, and seven days later, on June 6, 2018, the world watched as Ms. Johnson ran across the street into the arms of her family, after being granted clemency; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Johnson had served almost 22 years in prison, and then, on August 28, 2020, she was granted a full pardon by President Trump, and because of the injustice of her case, she has become the face of criminal justice reform; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Johnson has been called our modern-day Harriet Tubman, and she did not get comfortable in her own freedom, instead she reached back and helped many others gain their freedom and receive a second chance in life; and
WHEREAS, as a criminal justice reform advocate, some of Ms. Johnson's honors and awards include: CAOC Advocate for Justice award recipient in 2019; one of four women designated as a "Women's Rights Defender" at the United Nations on International Women's Day; honored as one of Ebony Magazine's Power 100 Blacks in America; and honored at the National Civil Rights Museum in their "Catalyst for Change" series; and
WHEREAS, additionally, Ms. Johnson is the founder of the Taking Action for Good Foundation and the celebrated author of "After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom", and she is also a national and international speaker and served on the boards of Duke University and Ready Life; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Johnson has been on numerous TV networks and podcasts, and was featured in a Superbowl commercial in 2020, many novels and several documentaries, and was a model in the launch of Kim Kardashian's SKIMS brand; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize extraordinary individuals, especially those such as Ms. Johnson, whose exceptional service and advocacy brings honor to her family, community, the State of Mississippi, and to the United States of America:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and honor Alice Marie Johnson for her outstanding service, accomplishments, and for being appointed the first-ever White House Pardon Czar by President Donald J. Trump, and extend best wishes for continued success in all her future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Alice Marie Johnson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
