- NAME: Barbara V. Johnson
- POLITICAL PARTY: Republican
- OCCUPATION: Attorney and Counselor at Law
- CITY OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque
- RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Practiced family law since October 1988 – almost 32 years in a very broad area
- EDUCATION: BUS — UNM; JD UNM School of law in 1988
- CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: lawbeforepolitics.com
- MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Honored to represent hundreds of clients during a very difficult time of their lives. Family Law involves all basic aspects of peoples’ lives — their relationships, children, finances. But families — no matter their makeup — are the bedrock of our society and our future. To help people through the legal system with those important issues is extremely rewarding.
- MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming a lawyer – despite being told that girls are not lawyers, having two children at ages 21 and 22, taking 10 years to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree so I could apply to law school, getting into and graduating from law school, passing the bar exam and being sworn in as a lawyer at age 37!
Why are you running and what strengths would you bring to the judiciary?
I am running because I believe I’ve gained the experience, knowledge and hopefully some wisdom to help the citizens of New Mexico. The right to an appeal from what a litigant believes is an incorrect trial court decision is an important right. It should not take years to determine whether something was incorrect at the trial level and needs to be corrected. I would like the opportunity to help the citizens of New Mexico at the Court of Appeals level by delivering decisions as quickly as possible without politics being involved. My strengths are a broad knowledge of the law and a strong work ethic. I do not think being a public servant could require more or harder work and assignments than being a sole or small firm practitioner. I have many years of experience as a sole or small firm practitioner and would bring that to the Court of Appeals when elected.
Personal background
1. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?
Yes. In 2005, after my husband lost the music businesses he owned, we struggled for many years to get back on our feet and continue to pay back the taxes.
2. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?
Yes. My husband lost the music businesses in 2005 and filed bankruptcy. He continued to pay his partners for many years. I was a “non-filing” spouse in that proceeding. The experience provided me a first-hand understanding of the struggles small business owners in New Mexico face and I will bring this insight to the court.
3. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state?
No
