On March 6, a social media activist, Martin Kollie, posted on Facebook in reaction to Cllr. Arthur Johnson, a criminal defense attorney, announced that he had been appointed as a judge.
The American Association for Justice, formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, is a nonprofit advocacy and lobbying organization for plaintiffs’ lawyers in the United States. The AAJ’s Student Trial Advocacy Competition is a nationwide mock trial competition for law students.
Kollie termed the post by Johnson as fake and two-faced because the competition is not competitive.
“Breaking News (FRAUD ALERT🚨)… Arthur T. Johnson Jr. has been booked again. This con man is too desperate for validation and undeserving accolades. His fakeness and two-facedness is too cheap. Boom, he is posting like he has gone through a rigorous vetting process to be preferred or selected as a JUDGE for a legal competition involving American Law Students. 😆 And a few Liberians are congratulating him everywhere on social media for his so-called selection as a “JUDGE” involving law students in America.
He says, “It takes less than one minute to apply, and you will automatically receive an email selecting you as a judge. Please click this link and apply too.
The post received 439 reactions, 104 shares, and many comments.
In response to Kollie, Johnson clarified, “For the purpose of education, only trial lawyers, current judges, and other lawyers serve as judges for the American Association for Justice/Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC).
Both links by Kollie and Johnson are the same and belong to the same institution.
The Stage Media used Scamdoc to verify the link.
It is clear to say that the application for the STAC was in three categories: join as an AAJ law student member, volunteer to judge, and 2023 STAC National Facts Partner.
Our research established that 1,400 lawyers volunteered as judges, jurors, and tournament coordinators for this year’s STAC (virtual regional competition).
The Regional Tournaments were held virtually from March 2–5, 2023. The National Finals will be convened in person in New Orleans, LA, from March 30-April 2, 2023.
Conclusion: Based on our further research, Johnson did not say that the STAC application process was competitive. He posted that he was accepted to serve and was selected to serve as a judge for the 2023 Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC) and American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trial Advocacy Competition in the United States.
Joyclyn Wea,54weajoyclyn@gmail.com
