About James McMurray
James McMurray Johnson built his academic foundation between science and law. He attended James Madison University beginning in 1998 and earned a B.S. in Biology and Economics in 2001. He then went on to George Mason University School of Law, where he received his J.D. in 2002. The mix of disciplines shaped an analytical approach that shows up in his courtroom work.
Early in his career Johnson focused on trial work and courtroom advocacy. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and before the Federal Circuit. Over the years he has handled matters that range from routine hearings to contested trials. He has presented programs aimed at young people and the community, which speaks to an interest in public education as well as courtroom practice.
Johnson’s professional associations map his practical interests. He has belonged to the National College for DUI Defense since 2008, and he has been a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association since 2009. Since 2009 he has also presented the “So You’re 18” program for the Prince William County Bar Association, a recurring effort to explain legal issues to teens and new adults. Those affiliations inform the types of cases he takes and the audiences he addresses outside the courtroom.
Community involvement is a constant for Johnson. He has coached football at Gar-Field High School and Woodbridge High School since 2001. Coaching has been a long-term commitment that runs alongside his legal work. The schedule requires early mornings and late nights. He has kept both roles active for decades.
Johnson divides his practice across two local offices. He maintains a Woodbridge office and a Manassas office to serve clients across the region. He appears in local and state courts in Virginia and handles filings and appeals that reach the Federal Circuit when the matters require it. He prepares evidence, conducts cross-examinations, and argues motions, drawing on courtroom experience accumulated over many years.
He is known in his community for explaining complex legal issues in plain language. He often speaks to school groups and civic organizations. His presentations are practical, not theoretical, aimed at helping people understand their rights and responsibilities.
Today Johnson concentrates his practice on criminal defense matters, including DUI cases, and represents clients in Virginia courts and in appropriate proceedings before the Federal Circuit.
