William P. Johnson

William Paul Johnson
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office February 7, 2018
Preceded by	Christina Armijo
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office December 21, 2001
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	John Edwards Conway
Personal details
Born	William Paul Johnson (1959-02-16) February 16, 1959 Roanoke, Virginia
Education	Virginia Military Institute (BA) Washington and Lee University (JD)

William Paul Johnson (born February 16, 1959) is the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Early life and education

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 became chief judge on February 7, 2018, after Christina Armijo assumed senior status.

Sources

• William P. Johnson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.