Ann Johnson is an accomplished trial and appellate counsel. Ann is also a nationally recognized Human Trafficking Expert providing testimony before the United States Congress, training to Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement officers and the Judiciary.

Ann also serves as State Representative for Texas House District 134. She was first elected in 2020 and is now in her second term.

She was appointed to serve on House Appropriations and Criminal Jurisprudence Committees in the 87th regular session. Ann was then appointed to the Constitution Rights and Remedies Select Committee and as Vice Chair of the Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety (Vice Chair) during special sessions. Today, Ann is Vice Chair of General Investigating and Insurance and is a member of Calendars, Public Health and Youth Health and Safety Committees for the 88th session.

Ann Johnson is from Houston, Texas, the youngest child of Jake and the Honorable Carolyn Marks Johnson. Growing up in her family’s law firm, she learned from her parents the honor of being someone’s trial attorney. As a lawyer herself, Ann has experienced the awesome responsibilty of standing in a courtroom and speaking for those who are unable to speak for themselves.

Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas and her la w degree from South Texas College of Law. After graduation, Ann worked as a briefing attorney for the Honorable Leslie Brock Yates, then a Justice on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals. Afterward, Ann became a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

In 2005, Ann left the District Attorney’s Office and entered private practice, where she represented citizens with civil, criminal and juvenile matters. Ann’s docket included the representation of many child victims of prostitution, and she was a founding member of the GIRLS Court, a special court dedicated to assisting children lawfully brought to the juvenile justice system who may also be victims of human trafficking.

Ann also pursued an active appellate practice, litigating cases in the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. One of her most significant cases was In re B.W., in which the Texas Supreme Court reversed the Harris County District Attorney’s prosecution of a 13-year-old child for prostitution and created a framework for protecting child victims of exploitation and human trafficking.

Ann returned to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in 2013 as the Human Trafficking Specialist focusing on increased identification of victims and prosecution of exploiters such as pimps and johns. Her work led to the establishment of the Human Trafficking Section where she served as the Chief until 2017.

Ann is now in private practice handling juvenile law, criminal law, civil and human trafficking related matters.

Ann is also an adjunct professor of law at South Texas College of Law Houston. She teaches courses on voir dire and jury communication, trial skills, and mock trial litigation.

Ann is also a member of the American Leadership Forum’s Criminal Justice Fellows Program; a program designed to join and strengthen leaders involved in the criminal justice community.

Ann is a former member of the Texas Children’s Justice Act Task Force.