JUDGE HOWARD R. JOHNSON
MUNICIPAL COURT OF ATLANTA
Judge Johnson is a fourth generation born and raised Atlantan who attended a local Catholic elementary school and Washington High School. Judge Johnson entered Morehouse College in 1960 on a football scholarship, but he left in 1962 to serve his country in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force Judge Johnson worked as a crew chief on a U-2 spy plane, serving 4 years during the Cuban Conflict and the Vietnam War. After leaving the military, he worked as an aircraft mechanic for Pan-American Airways in New York City before returning to Atlanta to complete his undergraduate degree at Morehouse College. Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree, Judge Johnson made history by entering the University of Miami Law School as a member of the first group of African-American students enrolled there.
Judge Johnson practiced general law in Atlanta from 1973 until 1975. In 1975, he received an appointment as the first Public Defender in the City of Atlanta. He was appointed to the Municipal Court of Atlanta in 1980 by Mayor Maynard Jackson. Judge Johnson has served on the bench of the Municipal Court of Atlanta for twenty-two years as either an associate judge or as Chief Judge. He is currently a Senior Judge at the Municipal Court. He is married to Rhonda Dauphine Johnson of Lafayette, Georgia. They have three children, two adult step sons and a daughter.