William Paul Johnson
William Paul Johnson (born February 16, 1959) is the Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Military Institute in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University in 1985. He was in the United States Army Reserve from 1981 to 1990. He was in private practice in Houston, Texas, from 1985 to 1986. He was in private practice in Roswell, New Mexico, from 1986 to 1995. He was a judge on the  state Fifth Judicial District Court from 1995 to 2001. Johnson is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. Johnson was nominated by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by John Edwards Conway. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 13, 2001, and received his commission on December 21, 2001. He became Chief Judge on February 7, 2018 after Christina Armijo assumed senior status.