The Hon. Cheryl H. Johnston is a judge for the 13th Judicial District Court of New Mexico. She was elected to the bench in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
The 13th Judicial District encompasses Cibola County, Sandoval County, and Valencia County. Johnston presides over family court matters, hearing divorce, parenting, custody, and child abuse cases.
Prior to her election, Johnston worked as an assistant district attorney for the Office of the District Attorney in the 13th Judicial District and the 2nd Judicial District. In that capacity, she acquired extensive jury trial experience, prosecuting homicide, armed robbery, aggravated battery, sex crime, domestic violence, child death, white collar, and gang related crime cases.
Johnston earned a bachelor’s degree from Rice University in 1977. She then completed a J.D. at the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1981.
After graduating from law school, Johnston began her legal career as a general practice attorney, representing clients in United States military courts in West Germany.
Her memberships have included the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission. She has also been involved with the State Bar of New Mexico Bridge the Gap Program, and she has taught as a visiting senior professor with the Center for International Studies at Herzen State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Johnston was a resident of Corrales, New Mexico, at the time of her election.
She is registered as a Republican.