Judge Johnson Seeks Supreme Court Seat

Superior Court Judge Horace Johnson, (Alcovy Circuit) has declared his candidacy for the Georgia Supreme Court seat currently held by retiring Justice Robert Benham.  Johnson, a graduate of Emory University and the University of Georgia School of Law, joins former Democrat Georgia Congressman John Barrow, former Republican state lawmaker Beth Beskin, and state Court of Appeals Judge Sara Doyle in the campaign for the seat, and says he is “…the only candidate who is an experienced trial court judge.” Johnson believes his experience as a trial attorney and trial judge “make him the best prepared for the job.”

The non-partisan election will be held in May. The remainder of the announcement is below:

“Outside of his 17-year judicial career, Johnson has distinguished himself through service to the State of Georgia, his local community, and the legal profession.  Judge Johnson’s many accolades include serving as Chairman (2010) and President (2009) of Leadership Georgia, which engages business and civic leaders across the State to promote community building and economic development.  His active engagement in his local community includes serving as the past president of the Arts Association in Newton County, Covington Kiwanis Club, and Newton Mentoring, to name a few.  In 2016, his judiciary peers elected Judge Johnson as President of the Council of Superior Court Judges, where he served as that body’s first African American leader.  He also is the recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Leader for Professional Excellence from the Daily Report, the 2018 Frederick B. Kerr Service Award from the Leadership Georgia Foundation, and the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Bar of Georgia’s Chief Justice Commission on Professionalism.  In addition to handling his regular dockets, Judge Johnson initiated a Veterans’ Treatment Court where prosecutors, defense attorneys, veteran peer mentors, and health care professionals use evidence-based screening and assessments to identify eligible veterans, who voluntarily participate in a judicially-supervised treatment plan as an alternative to incarceration. He further presides over a Parental Accountability Court which seeks to promote consistency in child support payments and improved parent/child contact from its participants. 

“Judge Johnson is exactly what every Georgian should expect from a judge at any level, but especially at our state Supreme Court –  fair, experienced, compassionate, in love with the law and determined to get to the right decision.  I am proud to Chair this campaign and work to get him elected,” said   Larry D. Thompson, former Deputy U.S. Attorney General.

Judge Johnson explains, “Experience matters.  I understand the challenges facing litigants in the trial court both from the perspective of an attorney practicing in those courts and also as a trial judge dedicated to following the law and treating all parties fairly.  I believe Georgians want a Supreme Court justice who understands these perspectives when reviewing the difficult decisions that are often made by trial judges.  That is why I am running.”   For more information about Judge Horace Johnson, please visit the campaign website at: www.judgehoracejohnson.com.”