You may find it hard to believe, but Judge David Johnson’s first career wasn’t as a lawyer. He actually got his start working for the Bacardi Rum company after graduating from Michigan State University. Over the years, he also worked for the Orlando Sentinel, with a trade show display manufacturer—and even owned his own business for a while! But deep down inside, he knew he’d always wanted to be a lawyer. So, at the age of 37, he made the life-changing decision to attend law school and make his dream come true. Tune in to Open Ninth to hear more about his early careers and why he wanted to join the bench. OpenNinth.fm

Timestamps

• 00:14 – Introduction to Judge David Johnson
• 16:53 – Interest in the law
• 19:52 – Getting started after law school
• 25:49 – Opening his own practice
• 27:12 – Running for the bench
• 32:10 – Surprises on the bench
• 42:40 – Changes on the bench