Johnson was born in
Roanoke, Virginia. He was an
Eagle Scout in the
Boy Scouts of America. He received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in the economics from
Virginia Military Institute in 1981 and a
Juris Doctor from
Washington and Lee University in 1985. He went to
Fort Sill to become an artillery officer and served in the
United States Army Reserve from 1981 to 1990. He achieved the rank of captain. He was in private practice in
Houston, Texas, from 1985 to 1986. He was in private practice in
Roswell, New Mexico. from 1986 to 1995. He was a judge on the state
Fifth Judicial District Court from 1995 to 2001.
Federal judicial service Johnson was nominated by President
George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by
John Edwards Conway. He was confirmed by the
United States Senate on December 13, 2001, and received his commission on December 21, 2001. He served as chief judge from February 7, 2018, to January 10, 2025. He assumed
senior status on January 10, 2025. == References ==