Hon. Margaret S. Johnson (Ret.) was a judge for the 3rd Judicial District Court of Minnesota in Winona County. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Rudy Perpich in 1987. Johnson retired in 2008.
The 3rd Judicial District includes Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona Counties. Johnson began her judicial tenure in Houston County before moving to her chambers in Winona County three years later.
Prior to joining the bench, she worked as a private practice attorney in Winona and Houston Counties and was a law clerk to the Hon Glenn Kelly and the Hon. Lawrence Collins with the 3rd Judicial District.
She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota. Johnson went on to complete a J.D. at William Mitchell Law School. She was admitted to practice in Minnesota in 1980.
Johnson is a native of Winona, Minnesota. Following her retirement, she hoped to devote more time to writing, music, theater and traveling.