Tiffany R. Johnson

Judge Tiffany R. Johnson: Profile

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Date of Report: 2026-04-30

Judge Overview

Judge Tiffany R. Johnson is a U.S. District Judge in the Northern District of Georgia. She was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on July 31, 2024, confirmed by the Senate on December 9, 2024, and received her judicial commission on January 2, 2025. Prior to her appointment, Judge Johnson was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia from 2017 to 2025, serving in the Civil Division before moving to the Criminal Division in 2020. Her earlier experience includes working as a litigation associate at the Atlanta law firm Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs, LLP, from 2012 to 2017. She earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Princeton University and her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Patent Docket

As a relatively new appointee, Judge Johnson is in the early stages of building a patent litigation docket. Court records indicate she has been assigned a small number of patent cases since taking the bench. These include Shane Michael Johnston v. Guardian Sports LLC, filed in April 2026, and VDPP, LLC v. Zero Edge Technology, a case concerning 3D eyewear technology that was voluntarily dismissed within weeks of its filing in early 2026. She was also assigned DS Advanced Enterprises v. Cooper Lighting LLC, a case transferred from the Central District of California. The technologies involved in her initial cases appear to span consumer electronics and mechanical devices. Due to the nascent stage of these proceedings, a discernible pattern regarding her approach to claim construction, such as the timing of Markman hearings or the format of orders, has not yet emerged. All patent cases in the district are governed by the Northern District of Georgia's Local Patent Rules, which dictate deadlines and procedures for infringement contentions, invalidity contentions, and claim construction briefing.

Notable Rulings and Trends

Given her recent accession to the bench, Judge Johnson has not yet issued substantive rulings on key patent litigation issues like claim construction, summary judgment, or trial verdicts. Her activity in the patent cases assigned to her has been limited to procedural matters, such as issuing scheduling orders and ruling on motions to withdraw counsel. For instance, in DS Advanced Enterprises, the docket shows Judge Johnson has managed initial case deadlines and entered orders on joint motions for protective orders. The single tracked case available, Shane Michael Johnston v. Guardian Sports LLC, was filed on April 22, 2026, and is in its earliest phase, with no significant judicial action to date. Consequently, there are no established trends or high-profile outcomes to report from her patent docket at this time.

Local Rules and Procedures

Judge Johnson has issued a standing order for civil cases assigned to her, which outlines her specific procedures and expectations. This order, in conjunction with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the District's Local Rules (including the Local Patent Rules), governs her courtroom. The standing order emphasizes the responsibility of counsel to work towards a "prompt and just resolution," noting that motions for extensions of time are not granted as a matter of course. It also sets limits on discovery, such as capping requests for admission at twenty-five, absent prior court approval. Parties are required to file a certificate of compliance with her standing order within seven days of its entry in their case. While not exclusive to patent litigation, these guidelines indicate a focus on efficient case management and adherence to established deadlines.