--- title: "Robert Thomas Johnson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-thomas-johnson-14821" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Robert Thomas Johnson New York Supreme Court, Bronx County · Justice ## Profile - Court: New York Supreme Court, Bronx County - State: New York - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Justice, New York Supreme Court, Bronx County, NY, 2016-present - Justice, Supreme Court, (Certificated), Bronx County, Civil Term, Elected, 2016 to 2025 - Administrative Law Judge, New York Supreme Court, Bronx County, New York, NY, 2019-2021 - Johnson held the role of a Justice of the New York Supreme Court in the 12th Judicial District from 2016 until his resignation in 2021 - District Attorney, Bronx County District Attorney's Office, New York, NY, 1989-2015 - Notable roles: Bronx County DA (1988–2005), Criminal Court Judge, NY Supreme Court Justice - In 1988, Johnson won the Democratic primary and general election for Bronx County District Attorney, becoming the first African-American elected to that office in New York State - In 1988, he became Bronx County District Attorney, the first African-American elected to that role in New York State, serving six terms and becoming the longest-serving DA in the county’s history - Judge, The Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York, New York, NY, 1986-1988 - In 1986, Mayor Edward Koch appointed him as a New York City Criminal Court judge - Assistant District Attorney, Bronx District Attorney's Office, New York, NY, 1978-1986 - Previously a New York City Criminal Court judge, an acting justice of the New York State Supreme Court, and a long-time Bronx County district attorney in New York City - Former judge of the New York Supreme Court, 12th Judicial District (Bronx County) - Advocacy for effective criminal justice and drug crime prevention - Serving as a judge in a high-profile district with significant legal and social challenges - Honored in Black History Month events as one of the notable African-American judges of Bronx County, Johnson is remembered for his public service, leadership, and advocacy for justice ### Education - B.A. in Philosophy from City College of New York and later a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1975 Alchetron - Philosophy — CUNY City College — 1972 ### Additional information - Elected in the 2015 New York judicial elections after a Democratic primary and general election, defeating other candidates in a six-seat race. - After law school, Johnson served as a defense attorney for the Legal Aid Society before joining the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office in 1978, rising to head the Narcotics Bureau. - Johnson’s legal career began as a defense attorney for the Legal Aid Society in 1975, followed by a promotion to Narcotics Bureau Chief in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. - Johnson grew up in the Amsterdam Houses housing project on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, attended James Monroe High School, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1970. - Born February 18, 1948, in the Bronx, New York. - Date of birth: 1948-01-01 - Served six terms, making him the longest-serving DA in the county’s history. - American jurist best known for his long career as Bronx County District Attorney and his service as a New York State Supreme Court Justice - Practitioner, Legal Aid Society of the City of New York-Criminal Defese Division, NY, ?-present - Current court assignment: Supreme Court, (Certificated), Bronx County, Civil Term - Before his judgeship, he was a New York City Criminal Court judge and an Acting Justice of the New York State Supreme Court - His tenure was marked by high-profile cases, drug enforcement, and a notable dispute with New York Governor George Pataki over the death penalty - His tenure included a high-profile death penalty controversy with New York Governor George Pataki - Birth place: The Bronx, New York City, NY ## 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 ### recording and photography Scope: statewide New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms. Evidence excerpt: Taking photographs, films or videotapes, or audiotaping, broadcasting or telecasting, in a courthouse including any courtroom, office or hallway thereof, at any time or on any occasion, whether or not the court is in session, is forbidden, unless permission of the Chief Administrator of the Courts or a designee of the Chief Administrator is first obtained [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### evidence presentation control Scope: statewide The official Guide to New York Evidence identifies court control over presentation of evidence as a statewide evidence topic; counsel should expect the assigned judge to control the mode and order of proof. Evidence excerpt: 1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14821/robert-thomas-johnson/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14821/robert-thomas-johnson/) - [New York Supreme Court, Bronx County current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14821/robert-thomas-johnson/) - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) - [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14821/robert-thomas-johnson/) - [Johnson, Thomas](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/johnson-thomas) - [Robert T. Johnson (lawyer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_T._Johnson_(lawyer)) - [Wikidata: Robert T. Johnson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20880630) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-thomas-johnson-14821", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-thomas-johnson-14821", "name": "Robert Thomas Johnson | KnowJudges", "description": "Robert Thomas Johnson, New York Supreme Court, Bronx County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-thomas-johnson-14821#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-thomas-johnson-14821#judge", "name": "Robert Thomas Johnson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-thomas-johnson-14821", "jobTitle": "Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "New York Supreme Court, Bronx County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14821/robert-thomas-johnson/" ], "birthDate": "1948", "birthPlace": "The Bronx, New York City, NY", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "CUNY City College" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "New York University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "New York University School of Law" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "City College of New York" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "James Monroe High School" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New York", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-york" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Thomas Johnson", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-thomas-johnson-14821" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-bf1c7eb9020e52eed65d) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-99a7824bb8e009643f842c03) — 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.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-34fe480ab82f22fa3c31d257) — 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.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26.