Randall B. Johnston
Randall
Johnston was born May 20, 1948 in New Brunswick, New Jersey to Lennie P. and
Mary Lee (Prunty) Johnston. In 1950, Randall’s parents returned to Columbia,
Missouri for the remainder of their lives.
Randall’s father’s family first moved to Columbia in 1924 to start a
paint store, and to live in a town where their children could attend college.
His mother’s family moved to Columbia in the ‘30’s after Dr. Merle
Charles Prunty was appointed as a Dean at Stephens College.
While growing up in Columbia, Randall attended West Boulevard and Lee
Elementary Schools, Jefferson Junior High and one year at Hickman High School.
He graduated high school from the Mount Hermon School, Mt. Hermon, Mass.
in June 1967 where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the weekly student newspaper, The
Hermonite, winning 1st and 2nd Place Awards, in 1966
and 1967 in the Columbia University Scholastic Press Competition.
Randall Graduated in 1971 from the University Of California at Berkeley
with a major in Philosophy and a minor in English Literature where he also made
the Dean’s List. He then
completed three semesters at the University of San Francisco Law School, and
withdrew in good standing while in the top third of his class.
Finding law school distasteful at this juncture, Randall then focused his
efforts full-time into construction as a builder and cabinetmaker, specializing
in custom bath & kitchen remodels and small additions in the San Francisco
Bay Area.
After almost ten years in the Bay
Area, in 1977 Randall decided to return to Columbia where he worked with his
father in the family paint store, the Johnston Paint Co.
Then in 1979 Randall founded Johnston Audio, Inc., an upscale audio and
video business, that he ran successfully until he decided to sell the business
in 1983 and return to law school. He
attended the University of Missouri at Columbia School of Law and graduated in
May 1986. During law school Randall served an internship with Mo.
Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Warren D. Welliver where he conducted research and
wrote opinions: e.g., Wimberly
vs. Labor and Industrial Relations Comm. Of Mo., 688 S.W.2d 344 (Mo.banc
1985), aff’g, 479 U.S. 511 (1987).
Randall also received an Award upon graduation for the highest grade in
Criminal Law Administration Seminar (Prof. Hunvald: 98/100) and made the
Dean’s List.
After passing the Bar Exam,
Randall entered into solo law practice for seven months, and then was hired as
an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Callaway County in Fulton, Missouri for over two years. As a prosecutor he handled eighteen (18) felony jury trials,
civil and misdemeanor jury and bench trials, all civil and criminal dockets,
misdemeanor appellate practice, and contested mental health and juvenile
hearings. In June of 1989 he joined
the Fulton law firm of Whitlow, Riley, Mariea & Dunlap, P.C. where he
practiced criminal and civil litigation, personal injury, real estate law,
family law, workers’ compensation, administrative law, construction and
appellate advocacy. Randall also
accepted appointments as a Special Prosecuting Attorney and as Special Public
Defender.
In April of 1992 Randall joined
with attorney Cullen Cline to form the Columbia law firm of Cline & Johnston
emphasizing litigation, general criminal and civil practice, family law, real
estate law, construction law, personal injury and appellate practice.
Five years later, in 1997 Randall returned to a solo practice, continuing
an emphasis in general criminal and civil litigation, real estate, construction,
workers’ compensation and family law, business law, personal injury and
appellate advocacy.
After sharing office space
together for a time, Randall Johnston, and George Smith formed their current law
firm of Johnston & Smith, LLC. Randall’s law practice has taken him to over Forty-eight
(48) Missouri Counties, Federal Courts in Kansas City and Jefferson City, the
Appellate Courts of Missouri, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St.
Louis.
Randall’s activities include:
Bd. Of Trustees, Salvation Army, Columbia, Mo. (1992-present), Chair
(’98-’99); Trustee, Cancer Research Center, Columbia Mo. (’94-’03),
Chair (’99-‘01); Bd. Of Directors, Regional Aids Interfaith Network (RAIN),
Columbia, Mo. (’99-’04); and Graduate Leadership Columbia 1995, Columbia
Chamber of Commerce.
Professional Associations: American Bar Association; Missouri Bar; Boone County Bar; admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Missouri, and before the U.S. Court of Appeal, 8th Circuit.