Hon. Benjamen J. Johnson is a judge for the Northwest Judicial District of North Dakota. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Doug Burgum in 2017, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. David W. Nelson (Ret.).
The Northwest Judicial District includes Divide, McKenzie, and Williams Counties.
Prior to his appointment, Johnson worked in private practice in Tioga (2008 to 2017) and was a public defense contractor for the Northwest Judicial District (2012 to 2017). He also served as the city attorney for the cities of Tioga, Ross, Bowbells, Wildrose, Portal, and Flaxton.
Over the course of his legal career, Johnson was the former acting State’s Attorney (2010 to 2011) and assistant state’s attorney (2008 to 2010) in Burke County. In addition, he served as a prosecutor for the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation).
Jacobson received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary in 2004. He went on to complete a J.D. at the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2008.
He was born and raised in Froid, Montana. He resides in Tioga with his wife, Melissa, a physical therapist, and their three children.