Judge Gary Johnson

Education: B.S. from University of California, Davis; J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Bar Admission: Admitted to the California State Bar in 1995.
Professional Background: Served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office prior to becoming a judge.
Judicial Appointment: Appointed to the Tulare County Superior Court in 2008 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Current Assignment: Superior Court Judge in Department 15 (South County Justice Center, Porterville), overseeing misdemeanor criminal cases and collaborative courts (Adult Drug Court, Recovery Court, Military Diversion).

Education and Bar Admission

Judge Gary M. Johnson earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Davis, and his law degree at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. After law school he passed the California bar exam and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1995. He has maintained his bar membership in good standing since admission.

Legal and Professional Background

Before joining the bench, Johnson spent roughly a decade as a prosecutor in Tulare County. He worked in the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney, where he handled a wide range of criminal prosecutions. In that role he gained substantial trial experience with felony and misdemeanor cases, establishing a working knowledge of the county’s criminal justice system prior to his judicial service.

Appointment to the Bench

In January 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Gary Johnson to a judgeship on the Tulare County Superior Court. He filled a vacant seat on the bench and was subsequently sworn in that year. Judge Johnson has served continuously as a Superior Court judge in Tulare County since his appointment.

Judicial Assignments and Department

Judge Johnson is assigned to Department 15 at the South County Justice Center in Porterville. This department covers the southern region of Tulare County (including Porterville, Lindsay, and Tulare). His criminal docket consists primarily of misdemeanor cases: he conducts pretrial conferences and probation violation hearings for misdemeanor defendants based on an alphabetical case assignment.

In addition to his regular criminal caseload, Johnson is the presiding judge for the court’s collaborative justice programs. He leads the Adult Drug Court, Recovery Court, and Military Diversion dockets, which are specialized court tracks focusing on treatment and rehabilitation rather than traditional prosecution. He also hears juvenile matters for the South County, handling both dependency and delinquency cases. On the civil side, he occasionally serves as a backup judge to cover overflow civil filings when needed.

Notable Rulings and Cases

As a trial-court judge, Judge Johnson’s daily work consists of routine criminal and civil trials and motions, rather than published opinions. There are no widely publicized landmark rulings associated with him. He has presided over ordinary civil jury trials (for example, personal injury, contract, or employment disputes) and misdemeanor jury trials, but none have drawn statewide attention. (Recent case dockets show employment law and data breach class-action suits handled in his court in 2025, though these were resolved at the local level.) In late 2024 local media noted that a lawsuit challenging a Tulare abortion clinic was initially assigned to Judge Johnson before being reassigned to another judge, illustrating that he receives a variety of cases, though that matter involved administrative transfer rather than a decision of his.

Judicial Philosophy and Courtroom Demeanor

Judge Johnson is generally regarded as a thoughtful and pragmatic jurist. He emphasizes rehabilitation and community support, especially in the treatment courts he oversees. For example, he has noted that the success of the county’s drug court depends on community “buy-in,” reflecting a philosophy of involving families and local resources in the justice process. In courtroom interactions he is known to be patient and courteous. Participants in drug court ceremonies have recalled that he personally inquired how he could support them, indicating an empathetic style. Overall, colleagues describe Johnson as calm, fair, and encouraging; he tends to foster a respectful atmosphere and focuses on practical solutions for defendants when appropriate.

Public Reputation and Community Involvement

Locally, Judge Johnson is well-known for his leadership of Tulare County’s drug court and other collaborative programs. He frequently speaks at community events, such as drug court graduation ceremonies, where he congratulates graduates on recovery and stresses public support. He also participates in educational outreach; for instance, he has been a guest speaker at the Academy of Law & Justice at a local high school and attends programs aimed at exposing youth to the legal system. Johnson serves on juvenile justice panels and commissions, working with probation and child services officials. Within the legal community he is considered approachable and respected, and often engages with the Tulare County Bar Association and civic groups on matters of justice reform and public safety.

Ethics and Disciplinary Record

Judge Gary Johnson has no known ethics complaints or disciplinary actions on his record. A review of judicial conduct records shows no public proceedings or sanctions involving him. He remains in good standing on the bench, with a reputation for integrity and adherence to the California Code of Judicial Ethics.