SMITH COUNTY, Texas — The Smith County Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace announced his retirement after over three decades years of service.
Jon Johnson announced that he intends to step down on September 30, 2024, ending his career in criminal justice after 35 years. He was first elected as Justice of the Peace in November 2018, and was sworn into office Jan. 1, 2019.
Johnson previously worked for 25 years for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. District Court in Tyler until his federal retirement in 2014. During this time he served as a federal prison case manager, federal probation officer and chief federal probation officer. He also taught criminal justice courses at Tyler Junior College and Lindale ISD.
“Although I have held different job titles and responsibilities over the years, I have enjoyed nothing more than serving the community as justice of the peace,” Judge Johnson said in his retirement letter submitted Friday, August 23.
The Smith County Commissioners Court will appoint an interim justice of the peace to fill his unexpired term. The Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 area covers the northwest portion of Smith County, including Lindale and Hideaway.