Kimberly C. Priest Johnson was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge in 2016. Prior to joining the judiciary, Judge Johnson clerked for the Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn. After her clerkship with Chief Judge Lynn, she practiced with both international and boutique law firms, including her own firm, where she focused on complex business and commercial litigation and federal criminal defense. Judge Johnson also represented indigent defendants as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for both the Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas. In addition, Judge Johnson served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas, where she prosecuted white collar crimes. Judge Johnson is an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, where she has taught Trial Advocacy and Pre-trial Practice and Advocacy, a class she designed and added to the law school’s curriculum. She also teaches an intensive trial program at Notre Dame School of Law. Judge Johnson serves as co-chair  of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association Diversity and Civic Outreach Committee and member of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association MJSTAR Committee. She also serves on the boards of the Eastern District of Texas Women’s Association and the Dallas Association of Women Lawyers. Judge Johnson and her husband Brett, have five children, ages 19, 15, 13, 12, and 10.