SDM: Heather, you’re currently a family lawyer by way of Louisiana. Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to Dallas.
Heather: I’m from Lake Charles, Louisiana. I grew up in a solid, supportive household where education mattered and expectations were clear. My parents believed in doing things well and doing them right, and that shaped how I move through the world.
I attended LSU for undergrad and graduated from Southern University Law Center. After law school, I moved back home with my parents, studied for the bar, passed it, and then made the decision to leave Louisiana and move to Dallas to open my own practice.
I founded H. Nicole Law in 2013 and moved to Dallas in 2014 to grow it. I’ve been practicing law for more than a decade, and I’ve always owned my own practice. Before law, I spent seven years in corporate America, which gave me a strong understanding of how decisions are made and how much tone and structure affect people’s lives.
This is actually my second time living in Dallas. I came back with a plan. I wanted to build something that was mine, on my own terms. I live in Oak Cliff now — I bought a home there — and that matters to me. This isn’t just where I work. It’s where I live and show up.
SDM: You’re a family lawyer. What made you choose that area of law to practice?
Heather: I didn’t stumble into family law — my very first family law case shaped the direction of my career. It was for a pastor’s son, and I was early in my practice. That kind of trust stays with you.
What stood out to me wasn’t just the legal issues. It was how much was riding on someone handling the situation carefully and thoughtfully. That case showed me early on how much trust this work requires — and how careful you have to be with people’s lives.
SDM: Your law practice is doing very well. What compelled you to want to throw your hat in the ring and run for judge?
Heather: After more than a decade in family court, you start noticing patterns — not just in outcomes, but in how people experience the process. I’ve seen families walk in already carrying stress and uncertainty, and leave with even more questions than answers.
That told me something important: how a courtroom runs matters just as much as the ruling itself. When I talk about resetting the bench, I’m talking about being intentional about how cases move, how decisions are explained, and how people are treated along the way — because that experience stays with families long after the case is over.
SDM: Dallas politics can be a rough business. What have you learned while campaigning in the community?
Heather: I’ve learned that people are watching you. They notice how you handle pressure, how you respond when things get uncomfortable, and whether you’re led by your own judgment or by outside noise.
A judge has to be able to listen, take in information, and make decisions without being pulled by approval, criticism, or public opinion.
That’s what comes with the robe.
SDM: What are some things that you would bring to the bench that are unique to you?
Heather: Owning my own practice for more than a decade has taught me how to make decisions independently and thoughtfully. Early on, I built the foundation myself, and over time, I built a team that allows me to serve families consistently and responsibly.
That experience has taught me how to sort through a lot of voices and focus on what actually matters in a case. Resetting the bench means running a courtroom where decisions aren’t shaped by who’s standing in front of you — not their connections, not their donations, not the law firm on their letterhead. The law is applied the same way, every time, in every case.
SDM: We are very involved in our community. I see you out often at various functions. What does community involvement mean for you?
Heather: For me, it’s about showing up in the community. I grew up watching the adults in my life show up — through church, school events, neighborhood gatherings, and community organizations. That was just how people stayed connected to one another.
Showing up still matters to me. It keeps the work real. It reminds me that people are more than case names or court dates. I value knowing the community I live in and serve by being present in it, not observing it from a distance.
SDM: Voters want to feel confident that the person they voted for has their best interests at heart. What would you say are the most important characteristics of an effective family court judge?
Heather: The ability to listen — really listen — without being judgmental. Even though the title says “judge,” the role requires openness. You can’t be open and judgmental at the same time.
A family court judge has to understand the ripple effect of every decision — how it reaches into people’s homes, their schedules, their finances, and their children’s lives. That requires emotional intelligence: the ability to really see and hear people, even when their lives look nothing like your own, and to understand how a decision will shape their future and the future they’re building with their children.
SDM: As a family court judge, what are the types of cases you would see and why does having the right person on the bench matter so much?
Heather: Family court involves custody, divorce, child support, protection, and modification cases — decisions that affect everyday life in very real ways.
If you have a son or a daughter, who sits on that bench affects child support, custody, and how often parents see their kids. If you have a brother or a sister going through a divorce, it affects how long the process takes, what kind of orders come out of it, and whether they leave court with direction or confusion. If you have a nephew, niece, or grandchild, it affects where they sleep at night and who’s responsible for their care.
Those decisions don’t stop at the courthouse doors. They show up in people’s homes, their work schedules, and the way families function every single day.
SDM: Heather, is there anything else you want voters to know that we didn’t cover?
Heather: What I want voters to really understand is how close to home this seat is. Family court isn’t distant or uncommon — it touches everyday life, whether people realize it or not.
You may never need family court, but someone you love already has — or will.
That’s why this seat matters — not in theory, but in real life.
SDM: Lastly, how can people find out more about your campaign and follow you?
Heather: People can follow the campaign online on Instagram: @johnsonforjudge and on Facebook: facebook.com/johnsonforjudge2026 and connect with us in the community. I encourage people to come meet me, ask questions, and be part of the conversation. That’s how trust is built.
