Courtney Johnson

Biography

Courtney received her JD with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland. She joined Lewis & Clark Law School as Associate Dean and Director of the Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Program after more than 15 years with Crag Law Center, where she most recently served as Executive Director.

Courtney began her legal career as a law clerk for a district court judge in Ketchikan, Alaska. As a law student, she interned with Crag Law Center, the Office of Compliance and Enforcement at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and San Francisco Baykeeper. She joined Crag Law Center as a Staff Attorney in 2008 and became Executive Director in 2018.

At Crag, Courtney’s work focused on protecting the Oregon coast and challenging fossil fuel projects, including the now-cancelled Jordan Cove gas export facility. She also worked with Oregon youth seeking state action on climate change. More recently, she has represented the Nez Perce Tribe in the cleanup and restoration of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.

Courtney has been published on topics including climate change adaptation and marine spatial planning. She has served on the Board of Directors of Bark, a watchdog organization for Mt. Hood, and formerly chaired the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Sustainable Future Section.

Academic Credentials