--- title: "Donald Johnson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-johnson-justice-of-the-peace-precinct-1-place-1-texas" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-27" --- # Donald Johnson Texas Justice Court, Precinct 1 Place 1 · Justice of the Peace ## Profile - Court: Texas Justice Court, Precinct 1 Place 1 - State: Texas - Role: Justice of the Peace - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### justice court remote appearances Scope: statewide In justice-court civil proceedings, the judge may allow or require electronic participation after considering case, evidence, access, and party factors; written notice must include joining and evidence-submission instructions. Evidence excerpt: A judge may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means. [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### limited criminal remote appearance Scope: statewide For the specific fine-and-cost hearings governed by Articles 45A.258 and 45A.259, a justice or municipal judge may allow a defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference when an in-person appearance would impose undue hardship. Evidence excerpt: If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference. [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://card.txcourts.gov/ExcelExportPublic.aspx?type=P&export=E&CommitteeID=0&Court=&SortBy=tblCounty.Sort_ID%2C%20Last_Name&Active_Flg=true&Last_Name=&First_Name=&Court_Type_CD=0&Court_Sub_Type_CD=0&County_ID=0&City_CD=0&Address_Type_CD=0&Annual_Report_CD=0&PersonnelType1=&PersonnelType2=&DistrictPrimaryLocOnly=0&AdminJudicialRegion=0&COADistrictId=0) - [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/ExcelExportPublic.aspx?type=P&export=E&CommitteeID=0&Court=&SortBy=tblCounty.Sort_ID%2C%20Last_Name&Active_Flg=true&Last_Name=&First_Name=&Court_Type_CD=0&Court_Sub_Type_CD=0&County_ID=0&City_CD=0&Address_Type_CD=0&Annual_Report_CD=0&PersonnelType1=&PersonnelType2=&DistrictPrimaryLocOnly=0&AdminJudicialRegion=0&COADistrictId=0) - [Texas Office of Court Administration, active Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/ExcelExportPublic.aspx?type=P&export=E&CommitteeID=0&Court=&SortBy=tblCounty.Sort_ID%2C%20Last_Name&Active_Flg=true&Last_Name=&First_Name=&Court_Type_CD=0&Court_Sub_Type_CD=0&County_ID=0&City_CD=0&Address_Type_CD=0&Annual_Report_CD=0&PersonnelType1=&PersonnelType2=&DistrictPrimaryLocOnly=0&AdminJudicialRegion=0&COADistrictId=0) - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-johnson-justice-of-the-peace-precinct-1-place-1-texas", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-johnson-justice-of-the-peace-precinct-1-place-1-texas", "name": "Donald Johnson | KnowJudges", "description": "Donald Johnson, Texas Justice Court, Precinct 1 Place 1. 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(1982) - Southern University — B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1977 ### Additional information - He currently presides over Section 1, Division B of the 19th Judicial District Court, with his term ending on December 31, 2026. - Elected to the Baton Rouge City Court in 1993 and subsequently to the 19th Judicial District Court in 1999, where he has served on multiple divisions including Criminal, Civil, Traffic, Drug Treatment, and Pretrial Release Courts. - Following graduation, he began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney with the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office and later opened his own law practice, the Law Offices of Donald R. Johnson & Associates. - He has held the role of a facilitator and instructor at the University of Phoenix, the National Judicial College, and the University of Nevada, Reno, teaching courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, trial conduct, and co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders. - Judge Donald R. Johnson is a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. - He has also received numerous certifications in areas such as judicial philosophy, dispute resolution, trial skills, and statistical analysis. - His teaching emphasizes interactive learning and practical trial skills for judges and students alike. - Throughout his career, Judge Johnson has received numerous honors, including the Black History Pioneer Award, Distinguished Community Service Award, Honorary Secretary of State of Louisiana, Gus Young Non-Violence Committee Humanitarian Award, and the William R. McMahon Award from the American Bar Association for technological advancements in court management. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0b7995f0d74b12852c186361) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7a6578736340dbebb75e89c7) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0fa5a7f51969f3609de00053) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.