MS HR12

Alice Marie Johnson, a native of Olive Branch, Mississippi, was appointed the first-ever White House Pardon Czar by President Donald J. Trump on February 20, 2025

Johnson served almost 22 years in federal prison after being convicted as a first-time nonviolent offender and sentenced to mandatory life without parole in 1996; she received clemency on June 6, 2018, and a full pardon on August 28, 2020

During incarceration, she became an ordained minister, hospice volunteer, and wrote and directed original plays while mentoring other women prisoners

Kim Kardashian advocated for Johnson's release after seeing a video op-ed in 2017, meeting with President Trump on May 30, 2018, which led to the clemency grant

Johnson has become a prominent criminal justice reform advocate, founding the Taking Action for Good Foundation, authoring "After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom," and receiving honors including the CAOC Advocate for Justice award and UN Women's Rights Defender designation