Dawn Johnsen
Dawn Johnsen. Photo by Jim Krause

On January 20, 2021, Bloomington’s Dawn Johnsen was sworn in as a senior counselor for the Biden Administration for the Department of Justice Office of Legal Council.

Johnsen, a constitutional law professor at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and the wife of Bloomington mayor John Hamilton, also served in the Department of Justice under President Clinton and on the transition teams of Presidents Clinton and Obama.

She has also served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General and as Acting Assistant Attorney General and is a member of the national boards of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and the Guttmacher Institute, which works to advance sexual and reproductive rights.

“All of us are so pleased that Dawn again has the chance to offer her great judgment and skills to this new administration,” says Hamilton. “This was Dawn’s third presidential transition and she loves rolling up her sleeves to help.”

Johnsen will be remaining in Bloomington to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.