CJ Johnson

C.J. Johnson is a second-generation trial lawyer. He received a history degree from the University of Colorado in 1995, and graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 1999. After law school, C.J. clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard F. Cebull in Great Falls before joining a high-energy Missoula defense trial practice in 2000. He became a partner in 2005. 

More than half of C.J.’s career was spent as panel-approved insurance defense counsel in personal injury, professional negligence (realtor and medical malpractice), products liability, insurance coverage, and complex real estate defect and disclosure cases. He always carved space for a handful of plaintiff’s cases, and that portion of his practice eventually grew to completely supplant defense work. C.J. opened his own practice in 2018, focusing exclusively on plaintiff’s civil litigation and trial work. C.J. has extensive trial experience and has won jury trials from both sides of the aisle. Although he now works almost exclusively as a mediator, C.J. continues to maintain a select litigation practice limited to catastrophic personal injury and complex defect and disclosure claims.    

C.J. is a Member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, an invitation-only professional association whose membership consists of mediators and arbitrators distinguished by their experience in civil and commercial dispute resolution. He is also a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney and a Mountain States Super Lawyer (2013 through 2025). C.J. has worked as a group instructor for the Trial Advocacy Class at the School of Law, coached the School of Law Negotiations Team, and has guest-lectured and spoken at the School of Law on legal writing, civil procedure, voir dire, opening statements, conflicts of law, trial experts, wellness, and professional development. C.J. is a member of the Montana Bar Association, Western Montana Bar Association, and Montana Trial Lawyers’ Association. He is admitted to practice in all Montana state and federal courts, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has handled numerous appeals to the Montana Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and has argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.