Sherwood was raised in the Phoenix metro area and received a bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University. He is married with 3 children.

Sherwood has previously worked as a magistrate and a civil traffic hearing officer in the Paradise Valley Civil Court. He has also worked in commercial real estate.

Sherwood Johnston currently serves as the Justice of the Peace for the San Tan Justice Court Precinct. He was appointed in 2023. Prior to this role, he served as a Constable for the San Marcos Justice Court Precinct. 

Candidate website

As a justice court judge, he oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits, administers oaths to public officials, handles requests for orders of protection against harassment, and performs marriage ceremonies.

As a magistrate court judge, he held preliminary hearings in minor criminal cases, oversaw civil suits and the recovery of personal property, and issued search and arrest warrants.

Believes in the importance of continuous legal education, as evidenced by extensive DUI/Extreme DUI training from 1998 to 2022. Supports ongoing professional development to maintain and enhance legal expertise.

- As a justice court judge, he oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits, administers oaths to public officials, handles requests for orders of protection against harassment, and performs marriage ceremonies.
- As a magistrate court judge, he held preliminary hearings in minor criminal cases, oversaw civil suits and the recovery of personal property, and issued search and arrest warrants.
- Believes in the importance of continuous legal education, as evidenced by extensive DUI/Extreme DUI training from 1998 to 2022. Supports ongoing professional development to maintain and enhance legal expertise.

Legal Experience

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Believes judges should "rule in accordance with the law." Opposes judicial activism and supports judicial restraint in constitutional interpretation.

Believes in being "a Judge of the people, not a politician," emphasizing judicial restraint and impartiality over political influence.

Said, "When people arrive, they don’t know what to expect, they are nervous, and they think the judge is going to hard to deal with. I get to show them that judges are people too."

- Believes judges should "rule in accordance with the law." Opposes judicial activism and supports judicial restraint in constitutional interpretation.
- Believes in being "a Judge of the people, not a politician," emphasizing judicial restraint and impartiality over political influence.
- Said, "When people arrive, they don’t know what to expect, they are nervous, and they think the judge is going to hard to deal with. I get to show them that judges are people too."

Judicial Philosophy

Believes in improving the Justice Court system through better case management and reducing backlog. Plans to enhance court administration and overall judicial efficiency.

Believes that being a justice of the peace in Arizona requires being a registered voter, residing in the precinct, and understanding English, but not necessarily being an attorney.

- Believes in improving the Justice Court system through better case management and reducing backlog. Plans to enhance court administration and overall judicial efficiency.
- Believes that being a justice of the peace in Arizona requires being a registered voter, residing in the precinct, and understanding English, but not necessarily being an attorney.

Judicial Administration

The candidate's website states, "A Judge who will be fair, impartial, swift and just."

- The candidate's website states, "A Judge who will be fair, impartial, swift and just."

Ethics & Conduct

Supports community involvement through events like the Veteran's Stand Down, which provides essential services to veterans. Believes in recognizing leaders who contribute to such initiatives.

Supports community involvement through events like the Veteran's Stand Down, which provides essential services to veterans.

Believes in strong community involvement through volunteer work, community service, and participation in local organizations. As a volunteer, coached girls' basketball at the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Scottsdale from 1996-1999.

Volunteered and coached girls' basketball at the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Scottsdale from 1996-1999.

Serves as the President of the Arizona Magistrates Association and on the Board of the Arizona Justice of the Peace Association.

Mentors new judges and serves on the Judicial College of Arizona’s Judicial Conference Planning Committee.

- Supports community involvement through events like the Veteran's Stand Down, which provides essential services to veterans.
- Volunteered and coached girls' basketball at the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Scottsdale from 1996-1999.
- Serves as the President of the Arizona Magistrates Association and on the Board of the Arizona Justice of the Peace Association.
- Mentors new judges and serves on the Judicial College of Arizona’s Judicial Conference Planning Committee.

Community Involvement

Endorsed by individuals in legal professions such as the Former Maricopa County Presiding Justice of the Peace, Keith Russell, the Maricopa County Presiding Constable, Nathan Wallace, and the Constable of the San Tan Justice Court Precinct, Steve Allen.

- Endorsed by individuals in legal professions such as the Former Maricopa County Presiding Justice of the Peace, Keith Russell, the Maricopa County Presiding Constable, Nathan Wallace, and the Constable of the San Tan Justice Court Precinct, Steve Allen.

Endorsements

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Sherwood Johnston

Sherwood Johnston attended Texas Christian University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1985. Details about where he lives, his church attendance, and family life are not provided in the information given.

Sherwood Johnston serves as the Justice of the Peace for the San Tan Justice Court Precinct, having assumed the position on January 11, 2023. Previously, he held the role of Constable for the San Marcos Justice Court Precinct.

Sherwood Johnston was appointed as the Justice of the Peace for the San Tan Justice Court Precinct on January 11, 2023. Prior to this role, he served as a Constable for the San Marcos Justice Court Precinct. Specific details regarding the length of his service as Constable, any committees he may serve on, or past election campaigns are not provided.

The candidate's website says, "• Limited Jurisdiction Judge since 1998"

The candidate's website says, "• Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, 1993/94"

Believes in the importance of legal experience and education, requiring a "minimum of 16 hours of continuing education annually since 1991."

The candidate's website says, "Justice of the Peace Pro Tempore since 2021"

The candidate's website says, "Justice of the Peace Pro Tempore since 2008"

The candidate's website says, "• Justice of the Peace - San Tan Precinct since 2023"

The candidate's website says, "Former Maricopa County Presiding Justice of the Peace"

The candidate's website says, "· Negligence Actions, (e.g. Motor Vehicle Accidents)"

The candidate's website says, "Each county has justice courts that are presided over by a justice of the peace, who is elected for a four-year term. These include civil lawsuits where the amount in dispute is $10,000 or less, landlord and tenant controversies, small claims cases and the full range of civil and criminal traffic offenses, including DUIs. Justices of the peace also resolve other types of misdemeanor allegations (e.g. shoplifting, writing bad checks, violating restraining orders) and, like other trial judges, also handle requests for orders of protection and injunctions against harassment."

The candidate's website says, "The justice of the peace usually has one or more court clerks to provide clerical assistance and maintain court records. Additionally, justice courts in some busy urban precincts have a court administrator."

The candidate's website says, "Justice courts also hear small claims cases. In those cases, the amount in dispute is $3,500 or less. Small claims cases are much more informal than a regular courtroom proceeding and usually do not involve attorneys. There is no appeal from a small claims decision."

The candidate's website says, "The number of justice courts in a county depends on its population. For example, there are 26 justice courts in Maricopa County, while in Gila County there are only two."

The candidate's website says, "Some justices of the peace conduct preliminary hearings on felonies. All justice courts hear every type of crime that is a misdemeanor under state law, including:"

The candidate's website says, "• Saguaro High School – Girls Softball JV Assistant Coach 1999-2002"

The candidate's website says, "• Saguaro High School – Girls Basketball Assistant Varsity Coach since 2000 to 2007"

The candidate's website says, "My team and I attending the deployment ceremony of one of our staff members, who is off with her Arizona National Guard Military Police unit, going off to protect the troops in the middle east. We are all hoping she stays safe and returns to us soon!"

The candidate's website says, "April 27, 2024 - A beautiful day at the Queen Creek Family Market at Schnepf Farms - a great time meeting with the voters!!"

- The justice of the peace presides over justice courts in each county. The number of justice courts in a county depends on its population. 
- A justice of the peace hears lawsuits, presides over misdemeanor cases, and hears civil and criminal traffic violations. Some examples of cases they might handle include eviction actions, DUIs (driving under the influence), and shoplifting. 
- Justices of the peace are elected in staggered elections for four-year terms. These elections are partisan. 
- Their salary depends on their judicial productivity, in other words, how many cases they see each year and equals, on average, $115,290.
- Some justices of the peace may be an attorney, but this is not a requirement for the role. 