Justice Phil Johnson is a true conservative, who believes judges must be impartial referees and strictly interpret the law, not seek to write it from the bench.– Governor Rick Perry
As a former Justice on the Texas Supreme Court, the state of our judiciary is important to me. That is why we need Justice Phil Johnson re-elected to the high court. Phil Johnson believes, as I do, that our courts need judges who are qualified, experienced and committed to the rule of law, not judges who legislate from the bench.– John Cornyn
United States Senator
About Justice Johnson
Justice Johnson was appointed to the Court on March 15, 2005, by Governor Rick Perry. He was serving as Chief Justice of the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo at the time of his appointment. In November, 2006 he was elected to fill the remaining two years of the Supreme Court term to which he was appointed. Justice Johnson will run in 2008 for a full six year term. He serves on the Court in Place 8.
In 1998 Justice Johnson was elected to the Seventh Court of Appeals which sits in Amarillo. In 2002 he was elected Chief Justice of that court. He practiced law from 1975 until 1998 with the Lubbock law fi rm of Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam, L.L.P. He is board certified in civil trial law and personal injury trial law.
Justice Johnson attended Texas Tech University School of Law, where he was a member of the law review and graduated with honors in 1975. He has been named as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Tech Law School.
Justice Johnson has been active in church, civic, and professional organizations. He has served at various times on the boards of directors or supervising committees of the Golden Spread Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Kiwanis, Southwest Lighthouse for the Blind, Lubbock Area Foundation, Lubbock County Legal Aid Society, Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Region I Advisory Group), Trinity Christian Schools and the Carillon Foundation. He has served as president of the Lubbock County Bar Association, and has served on numerous committees of the State Bar of Texas, including pattern jury charge and alternative dispute resolution committees. He is member of the College of the State Bar and is a life fellow of both the Texas and American Bar Foundations. Justice Johnson is listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law.
From 1965 until 1972 he served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot and instructor pilot. He was honorably discharged as a captain. He is a decorated veteran of Vietnam.
Justice Johnson is married to Carla Jean Johnson and has five children.