BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Twin brothers Donald and Ronald Johnson were 14 years old in 1968 when they helped integrate Westdale Middle School in Baton Rouge. Today, they walk those same corridors as judges who say that pivotal moment shaped their lifelong commitment to justice.
The Johnson brothers now serve as judges in the 19th Judicial District courthouse, with Donald serving as chief judge.
Early integration experience
The brothers left their familiar environment to join other Black students integrating Westdale in 1968. They sat on bleachers in the school gym on their first day.
“There was a perception that something better was there, something that I was not was there, and I could be that,” said Judge Donald Johnson…