### Personal background

Gene earned his law degree at Campbell University after completing pre-law at Appalachian State University. Gene lives in Henderson with his partner and he has 2 children.

Gene Johnson platform & website | District Court Judge, Seat 02

Gene Johnson completed pre-law studies at Appalachian State University and earned a law degree from Campbell University. He lives in Henderson with his partner and has two children.

Johnson, who worked as an attorney from 1988 to 2021, has served as a District Court judge for the past five years. His background as an attorney, experience as a District Court judge and relationships with court personnel, he said, qualify him to serve as a judge in Superior Court, where more complex cases are handled.

Party leaders to pick candidates for vacant Superior Court judge seat

Gene Johnson previously worked as an attorney.

Republican leaders choose nominee for Superior Court judgeship

Meeting at the VFW Hall in Hendersonville, a committee made up of party leaders from the 42nd Judicial District selected Johnson, who won election to the lower court in 2020, over Michael VanBuren, an assistant district attorney based in Hendersonville.

Republican leaders choose nominee for superior court seat

Gene was elected as a District Court judge in 2020.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Served as a District Court judge for five years.

- Worked as an attorney from 1988 to 2021.
- Served as a District Court judge for five years.

Legal Experience

Johnson said the process for choosing a new Superior Court judge in situations such as Knight’s retirement is flawed. “There’s a lot of confusion about it. I don’t agree with it, but that’s the law,” he said. “The voters should put someone in for that length of time.”

Said voters, rather than a party-leader committee, should choose a new Superior Court judge after a vacancy.

- Said voters, rather than a party-leader committee, should choose a new Superior Court judge after a vacancy.

Judicial Administration

### Judicial Philosophy

Said, “I am a constitutionalist, meaning that I believe in following the United States Constitution, the North Carolina Constitution and the laws as they were written and as they were originally intended. I believe in the rule of law; I do not believe that judges should legislate from the bench. I will follow the rule of law and apply the applicable law to the credible facts to reach a fair, equitable, and unbiased decision — free from political influence.”

Said judges should follow the U.S. and North Carolina constitutions and applicable law as originally intended, rather than legislate from the bench.

- Said judges should follow the U.S. and North Carolina constitutions and applicable law as originally intended, rather than legislate from the bench.

Judicial Philosophy

As of September 2, 2026, Gene Johnson did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Gene Johnson

As of September 2, 2026, Gene Johnson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

LinkedIn

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- The Superior Court Judge hears both civil and criminal cases. Superior Court Judges try civil cases involving more than $10,000. Superior Court Judge hear appeals of misdemeanors and infraction cases that were first heard in the District Court,
- They make decisions on bail, meaning a Superior Court Judge could keep a non-dangerous person in jail before they are convicted by setting a high bail.
- In each district (except Wake County), the most senior judge in years of service is designated the senior resident superior court judge. They are responsible for various administrative duties, including appointing magistrates and some other court officials, and managing the scheduling of civil cases for trial.
- Superior court judges rotate among the districts within their divisions.  
- The Superior Court Judge is elected for 8-year terms. Elections are partisan.

Trial Judge who hears criminal and civil cases