About
Robert Johnson is currently running for judge of the 209th Criminal District Court in Harris County, Texas. He is the former judge of the 177th Criminal District Court in Harris County, Texas. He was elected to the bench in November of 2016 and served as the presiding judge of 177th Criminal District Court for eight years. Mr. Johnson oversaw the entire pre-trial, trial and post-trial process for felonies cases (e.g., ruling on objections, jury selection and sentencing). He has a proven track record of managing complex criminal cases and making well-reasoned decisions. He also implemented a new docket management strategy, which lowered the case backlog. He has over 20 years of experience in the area of criminal law and had extensive criminal defense practice prior to taking the bench. As a former judge, he believes in justice and fairness for all. If elected, he is committed to making his rulings based on the law and to always remain fair/impartial. He has also spoken at various community events and served as a mentor for several law student interns in the 177th District Court. He appreciates the opportunity to serve the public as a judge and is seeking election to the 209th Criminal District Court in 2026.
Mr. Johnson was born in New York City (Bronx), but he has lived most of his life in Houston, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Commerce from the University of Houston and his Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. While in law school, he had a strong desire to practice criminal law and was awarded an internship at the Fort Bend District Attorney’s Office. During his internship, he had the opportunity to practice criminal law via a student bar card, which included observing and assisting in criminal hearings/trials. As a first-generation attorney in his family, Mr. Johnson began his legal career in the private sector. After law school, he opened his own law practice at the Law Offices of Robert Johnson, which specialized in criminal law. Prior to becoming a judge, he did criminal defense work for 14 years and handled numerous criminal cases.
Mr. Johnson has been recognized for his commitment to legal excellence and has received many awards, including the 2017 Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs of Texas Award, 2020 Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs of Texas Award, 2024 Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs of Texas Award, and the 2017 Mexican American Sheriff’s Organization Award of Excellence. His professional and community affiliations have included: the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Lawyers Association, Cypress Tomball Democrats, Cy-Fair Democrats, Houston Black American Democrats, and Area 5 Democrats. He is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Mr. Johnson is married to corporate attorney, DeMonica Gladney Johnson, Esq.