RIVERSIDE —— As a Riverside County deputy public defender, Mark Johnson strives to protect the rights of those individuals he defends within America's court system.

As a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, the Murrieta lawyer spent eight months in war-torn Iraq, where he helped draft historic documents that will protect the rights of more than 7 million people living in and around Baghdad.

Johnson, 47, was deployed to Iraq from Feb. 2 to Oct. 2 last year, spending most of that time developing the first city charter and constitution for the Baghdad province.

He also was involved in the early planning stages of the national elections, the first of which were held last month.

Johnson was in Iraq as the chief of the Governorate Support Team, serving with the 425th Civil Affairs Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.

His accomplishments there earned him the Bronze Star, presented to him in August.

"We were trying to develop something that was democratic, that was fair at the city level," Johnson said from his downtown Riverside office Monday. "What we always had to remember was that this is their country."

Johnson said the charter was signed into law by the Coalition Provisional Authority as a temporary measure until it is approved or rejected by voters.

Under the charter, the mayor is accountable to a city council of 37 members, Johnson said. Historically, the mayor in Baghdad has been nothing more than a political figurehead, serving at the will of whoever was in power in Iraq, Johnson said

"Everything's always come from the top in Iraq," he said.

While historic national elections were recently held in Iraq, a vote for public offices in Baghdad have yet to be held, Johnson said, adding he hopes that will happen sometime in 2006.

The Baghdad province includes the capital city of about 6 million people and smaller communities consisting of another 1.5 million Iraqis, Johnson said.

"It's structured like a big county with one city and a bunch of unincorporated areas," Johnson said. "We wanted to tailor the city charter to the unique aspects of Baghdad."

To get to that point, Johnson said, there were also some unique aspects of the culture to be dealt with as well.

Iraqis often argue and do so loudly, he said with a laugh.

"Arabs also love to socialize and get to know everyone they are dealing with," he said.

So, Johnson organized a number of social events where all sides spent time learning about each other. He also organized a large "town hall" meeting, so residents of Baghdad could learn about the new laws covered under the charter.

The charter is now being used as a model for local and provincial governments throughout Iraq.

The historic document —— which began in English, then was translated into Arabic —— took about four months to develop, Johnson said.

"You work and you sleep," he said, adding that he did find some time to watch some DVD movies on his laptop.

Now back home, that laptop is being used to present a slide show of what Johnson saw and did while in Iraq.

He said it started when he put together a presentation for his daughter's second-grade class. Then he showed the Power Point presentation to co-workers at the public defender's office, a presentation others in his office say was very informative and well-received.

The photographs, nearly all taken by Johnson, depict the good and the bad of the Baghdad area. There are photos of the city itself, the devastation, and its people. Some of the photos of which Johnson is most proud show the children of Baghdad.

"It was incredible the way these kids would just come out of the woodwork" when he and other soldiers passed by, Johnson said. "In 20 to 30 minutes in some places, there'd be 600 to 700 kids around."

The photos show groups of children flashing peace signs or giving a "thumbs up" gesture.

"That was a real big thing, the thumbs up, along with them calling you 'Mister,'" Johnson chuckled.

After being there and experiencing firsthand the work done to help the Iraqi people, Johnson said he's often frustrated when he hears others say not enough is being done.

"From here (in the U.S.), it sometimes seems like it is all going to hell over there," Johnson said. "It doesn't feel like that when you are over there. There are always projects and rebuilding going on. It was really heartening to see that."

Johnson said he's also seen the frustration of the Iraqi people who expected change to happen overnight.

"We would have seen so much more change and improvement if not for the insurgents," Johnson said.

Though he says he never thought he'd say it, Johnson admits he misses Iraq.

"While over there, I wanted to come home, see my family and go to a bar to have a beer and watch a ballgame," Johnson said.

But, he says he developed a strong bond with the Iraqis and their country.

"I had a real sense of mission over there," Johnson said. "It was very rewarding and challenging. The place has got a long way yet to go, but I think we are really making a difference."

Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.