Johnson was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson on October 1, 1917, to a seat vacated by William LeBaron Putnam.

Born on February 14, 1859, in Winslow, Kennebec County, Maine,[1] Johnson attended the common schools and Waterville Classical Institute.

[2] He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1879 from Bowdoin College and read law in 1886.

[2] Johnson was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson on October 1, 1917, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit vacated by Judge William LeBaron Putnam.

[1] His service terminated on February 15, 1930, due to his death while on a visit to St. Petersburg, Florida.