Midland County Judge Terry Johnson of West Texas is facing a federal civil rights lawsuit and a growing push to remove him from office after allegedly posting a political critic’s Social Security number, driver’s license number, and date of birth on Facebook. The post came less than 24 hours after the critic, Christino Rodriquez—known online as "Nino America"—published federal court records involving Midland County.

Rodriquez’s 26-page federal lawsuit alleges that Johnson retaliated against him for criticizing local government by using his position to obtain confidential information and publishing it online. According to the lawsuit, Johnson posted a 2015 arrest warrant on his personal Facebook page with the caption, "Convicted felon trying to be a player." The complaint states that the charges related to the warrant were later dismissed and that Rodriquez was not convicted.

An attorney representing Rodriquez told Fox News Digital that the case extends beyond a single Facebook post, noting uncertainty about how many images or screenshots of the sensitive information were saved or shared. The attorney described the alleged actions as "probably the highest form of doxxing."

The controversy also involves a separate effort to remove Johnson from office. Midland County District Attorney Glenn Harwood filed a petition on August 6 seeking Johnson’s removal, citing the disclosure of a resident’s personal information. The 16-page filing highlights Harwood’s unique position as both a Midland County resident and district attorney, asserting that the factual allegations are within his personal knowledge.

Johnson lost his bid for reelection after failing to advance from the March 3 primary. If he remains in office, his term is expected to end in early 2027, when election winner Jay Marquez is set to take office, according to the Reporter-Telegram.

The case raises broader concerns about First Amendment rights and the ability of individuals to criticize government without facing retaliation through the misuse of government power.

Sources