Judge Johnson received her law degree from Florida State University in 1983.

Prior to joining the bench, Laura Johnson was an 18-year veteran prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office in West Palm Beach. She was the Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit and supervisor of the DOVE unit, the largest service provider for domestic violence victims in Palm Beach County. Prior to the DV unit, Johnson was a Felony Division Chief, responsible for prosecuting first degree murders, sexual batteries and habitual felony offenders.

Judge Johnson has frequently lectured in the areas of domestic violence and trial practice, including conducting training programs for police departments and medical professionals regarding domestic violence. In 2002, she was the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award, presented by the Florida Prosecuting Attorney's Association.

She has been active in SafetyNet at Homesafe, a project in which victims of domestic violence receive physical and psychological evaluations, and has been a member of the Palm Beach County Domestic Violence Counsel and the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. She has also been involved in a variety of other community organizations, including being on the Advisory Board for St. Mark's Episcopal School and an ambassador for the Jupiter Medical Foundation.

Judge Johnson is married to West Palm Beach Attorney William E. Johnson. They have three children, ages nine through thirteen.

Judge Johnson was elected to the County Court bench in September, 2002, and started her term in January, 2004.