Carolyn Marks Johnson is the author of an eleven-book series that delves into the lives of people working in Texas courthouses. The series kicks off with Detention and Rutter Industries, capturing the rich and often untold stories that emerge from these pillars of justice. With 30 years of experience in the court system, Carolyn has a deep appreciation for the narratives that flow through these symbols of our legal framework, which stand at the heart of communities, commanding attention and welcoming all.

Before her tenure in the courts, Carolyn built a distinguished career as a journalist, covering stories and capturing images for newspapers in Dallas, Raleigh, and Greensboro. Her investigative work earned her in-house awards, reflecting her commitment to uncovering truth and telling impactful stories.

Carolyn’s academic achievements are equally impressive. She was awarded a Research Fellowship by the Friends of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin, which enabled her to study the Presidential Papers of Lyndon Baines Johnson. This research formed the foundation of her Master’s thesis, “A Southern Response to Civil Rights: Lyndon Baines Johnson and Civil Rights Legislation 1957-1960” (University of Houston, 1974). She further explored legal dynamics in her writing, including “Juror People Preferences, A Houston Jury Project,” as part of her Master of Judicial Studies at the University of Nevada’s National Judicial College (1998).

Carolyn has also dedicated herself to education, teaching History and Government at Alvin Community College (1974-81) and the University of Houston as a teaching fellow (1972-74). Since 1998, she has been sharing her expertise in jury communication and voir dire as an adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law.

As an undergraduate at the University of Houston, Carolyn’s literary talent was recognized when she placed fourth in The Atlantic Monthly's national Literary Contest (1972). She was also honored with the Louis Kestenberg Award for Outstanding Graduate Research Paper.