Johan Cappelen (1889–1947) was a Norwegian jurist and politician for the Conservative Party.
He was born in Skogn. He graduated with cand.jur. degree in 1911. He worked as a deputy judge, and from 1915, attorney. He was barrister with access to work with Supreme Court from 1922.
As a politician Cappelen was elected to Trondheim city council, and later served as mayor from 1931 to 1934. In 1940 he was appointed County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag. However, during the German occupation of Norway Cappelen was removed. He was a member of the resistance group Sivorg. From 1943 to 1945 he was imprisoned, at Vollan, Falstad and Grini.
When the occupation ended in 1945, Cappelen was appointed Minister of Justice and the Police in the non-partisan Gerhardsen's First Cabinet. This cabinet lasted from June to November 1945, when a general election was held and the Gerhardsen's Second Cabinet assumed office. Cappelen was reinstated as County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag, and held the post until his death in 1947.