Diona S. Johnson

A proud Fort Worth native, Diona was the salutatorian of her graduating class at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School before attending Texas Christian University. At TCU, she held leadership roles in several student organizations, helped organize peaceful student movements around social issues, and collaborated with university leadership to advocate for meaningful improvements to the student experience. Driven to pursue a career in law, she went on to earn her J.D. from Florida A\&M University. During law school, Diona gained valuable experience with a Criminal Appeals Law Firm, The Bronx Defenders in New York City, and Regional Conflict Counsel in Florida. Each role provided a foundational firsthand knowledge that she continues to build upon in her practice. She has identified minute issues of criminal law that have changed the outcome of first and second-degree felonies that previously seemed insurmountable. She also developed an approach to navigating Child Protective Services family law representation while protecting intersecting criminal rights. Additionally, her work drafting Habeas Corpus briefs has given her a holistic view of errors found at the Trial Court level that are suitable for appeal. In 2020, she expanded her knowledge base by working in immigration law, recognizing the safeguards necessary to protect Constitutional Rights when handling criminal cases with immigration concerns.

Diona’s trial experience and elite negotiating tactics were cemented while working as a Panhandle Area Public Defender, where over the span of approximately two years, she represented hundreds of clients across Potter, Deaf Smith, and Moore County. During that time, she handled Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Murder jury trials, consistently achieving better outcomes for nearly every client than initial plea offers. With a strong foundation built on service, advocacy, and courtroom experience, Diona is enthusiastic about continuing to defend the rights of her clients while remaining deeply connected to the communities she serves in Fort Worth.