[1] 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 was a judge on the state Fifth Judicial District Court from 1995 to 2001.

Johnson was nominated by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by John Edwards Conway.

He served as chief judge from February 7, 2018 to January 10, 2025.