--- title: "William Paul Johnson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-p-johnson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # William Paul Johnson U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico · U.S. District Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico - State: New Mexico - Role: U.S. District Judge - Service status: senior - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, D. New Mexico, 2001-present - American jurist who held the role of a United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico from 2001 until his senior status in 2025, and is set to retire from the court on September 30, 2026 - Chief Judge: held the role of Chief Judge of the District of New Mexico from February 7, 2018, to January 10, 2025 - State Court Judge: Fifth Judicial District Court, New Mexico (1995–2001) ### Education - Virginia Military Institute — B.A. (1981) - Washington and Lee University School of Law ### Additional information - Private practice, Roswell, NM, 1986-1995 - U.S. Army Reserve, 1981-1990 - Private practice, Houston, TX, 1985-1986 - Born February 16, 1959, in Roanoke, Virginia. - Date of birth: 1959-01-01 - Birth place: Roanoke, VA ## 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 ### courtroom technology Scope: judge specific Judge-specific source Evidence excerpt: The evidence may then be electronically viewed by jurors in a jury deliberation room at a later time. How to Submit Electronic Exhibit Files Electronic evidence files should be provided via USB drive. Media storage devices are to be placed in a sealed envelope with the name of the CRD or chambers’ staff clearly written… [Microsoft Word - Trial Prep Criminal with JERS updated 3.20.23.docx](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/Trial%20Prep%20Criminal%20with%20JERS%20updated%203.28.23.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-24 ### courtroom technology Scope: judge specific Judge-specific source Evidence excerpt: 4. REQUIRED FORMAT FOR SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC EXHIBITS: In addition to the requirements set out #1 pertaining to exhibits, exhibits also need to be submitted in electronic format TWO (2) WEEKS prior to trial. Refer to attached JERS Informational letter, along with Attorney Guide to JERS for instructions on how to submit electronically formatted trial… [Trial%20Prep%20Civil%20with%20JERS.pdf](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/Trial%20Prep%20Civil%20with%20JERS.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-24 ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391386) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391386) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391386) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1647/william-paul-johnson/) - [Microsoft Word - Trial Prep Criminal with JERS updated 3.20.23.docx](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/Trial%20Prep%20Criminal%20with%20JERS%20updated%203.28.23.pdf) - [Trial%20Prep%20Civil%20with%20JERS.pdf](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/Trial%20Prep%20Civil%20with%20JERS.pdf) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1647/william-paul-johnson/) - [Wikidata: William Paul Johnson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8016677) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-p-johnson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-p-johnson", "name": "William Paul Johnson | KnowJudges", "description": "William Paul Johnson, U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. 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Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.