Anthony Johnstone


Anthony Devos Johnstone is an American lawyer who serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Early life and education

Johnstone earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1995. He was a paralegal at the law firm Arnold & Porter from 1995 to 1996. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School, graduating in 1999 with a J.D. degree with honors. He married Autumn Helene Devos in 2004.

Career

In 1999 and 2000, Johnstone served as a law clerk for Judge Sidney R. Thomas of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. From 2000 to 2003, he was a litigation associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. From 2004 to 2008, he served as an assistant attorney general in the Montana Department of Justice. From 2008 to 2011, he served as Solicitor General of Montana. From 2011 to 2023, he worked as a professor at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law. He was a solo practitioner at Johnstone PLLC in Missoula, Montana. Johnstone has been a member of the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society.
In 2008, Johnstone represented the state of Montana in a case against Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church. The church, located in East Helena, Montana, believed that marriage may exist only between one man and one woman. The church challenged certain provisions of Montana's campaign finance law requiring reporting and disclosure of campaign contributions or expenditures.

Federal judicial service

On September 2, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Johnstone to serve as a United States circuit judge for the Ninth Circuit. On September 6, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Johnstone to the seat to be vacated by Judge Sidney R. Thomas, who announced his intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. Senator Steve Daines of Montana opposed his nomination, saying that Johnstone was too political and partisan to be a judge and that the White House had not adequately consulted him on the nomination. On October 12, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was questioned about his views on election integrity and religious freedom issues. On December 1, 2022, his nomination was favorably reported by the committee by an 11–10 vote. On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate; he was renominated later the same day. On February 2, 2023, the committee failed to report his nomination by a 10–10 vote. On February 9, 2023, his nomination was favorably reported by the committee by an 11–10 vote. On April 25, 2023, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed cloture on his nomination. On April 27, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 50–45 vote. On May 1, 2023, his nomination was confirmed by a 49–45 vote. He received his judicial commission on May 5, 2023.