Philip C. Johnston
Philip C. Johnston is an attorney with Roderman & Johnston LLC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His practice includes criminal defense, select civil-rights matters, and complex litigation. He represents clients in Broward County, Palm Beach County, and throughout South Florida. Columbia Law J.D. Former Skadden Arps white-collar attorney. Former UPI foreign correspondent who covered the Kremlin and the war in Chechnya. Licensed to practice law in Florida and New York.
Education
Columbia University School of Law
J.D., 2000
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
M.A., 1994
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
B.A., 1990
Bar Admissions
- New York Bar — 2003
- Florida Bar — 2012
Memberships
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- New York State Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association
- Who's Who in America
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Defense
- Federal Criminal Defense
- White Collar Criminal Defense
- DUI & Serious Criminal Charges
- Civil Rights Litigation
- 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Claims
- Police & Correctional Misconduct
- Select Personal Injury Matters
- Complex & High-Profile Legal Matters
An Unusually Broad Background in Criminal Defense
Philip C. Johnston is an attorney with Roderman & Johnston LLC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His practice includes criminal defense, select civil-rights matters, and complex litigation. He represents clients in Broward County, Palm Beach County, and throughout South Florida. Raised in New York City and Florida, he has lived continuously in South Florida for the past twenty years.
After graduating from Columbia University School of Law in 2000, Mr. Johnston spent two years clerking for a federal judge in Miami in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He later joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Manhattan, where he worked in the firm's white-collar criminal defense practice group.
Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Johnston worked as a foreign correspondent for United Press International, covering political affairs including the Kremlin and the war in Chechnya. He speaks fluent Russian.
In 2018, Mr. Johnston started his own criminal defense practice in West Palm Beach, Florida. His work has included obtaining dismissals and favorable resolutions for clients facing serious criminal allegations, including doctors, lawyers, business owners, and financial professionals.
Outcomes That Matter
Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer — Charge Dropped
Philip C. Johnston obtained dismissal of a Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer charge against Samantha Caputo after filing a sworn Motion to Dismiss. The offense carried a mandatory felony conviction upon conviction. Surveillance footage from the Broward County jail later became public, and the matter received extensive South Florida media coverage. Johnston continues to represent Ms. Caputo as co-counsel in related federal civil-rights litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
View Featured MatterThree Felony Charges Dismissed
Persuaded the State to dismiss three felony charges filed against a commercial real estate attorney, including burglary of a dwelling, domestic battery by strangulation, and child abuse.
Sales Tax Fraud Case Dismissed
Obtained dismissal of a sales tax fraud case against a Fort Lauderdale businessman.
Department of Revenue Matter
Prevailed in a Department of Revenue case involving allegations of failure to pay child support.
25-Count Felony Case Resolved Without Jail
Represented an 18-year-old college student in St. Lucie County charged with 25 counts of possession of child pornography. After approximately 18 months of negotiation, the resolution allowed the client to avoid jail, a felony conviction, and sex-offender registration. His criminal record will eventually be eligible to be sealed, and Mr. Johnston also persuaded the university to allow him to remain enrolled.
Felony Burglary Charges Dropped
Obtained dismissal of felony burglary charges in Broward and Palm Beach Counties against a man accused of stealing used cooking oil from fast-food restaurants for resale in the biodiesel market.
Impersonating an Officer Charge Dropped
Obtained dismissal of charges against a man accused of impersonating a police officer in Hillsborough County.
Diversion Secured — Fort Lauderdale Criminal Matter
Philip C. Johnston secured diversion for a client facing criminal charges arising from a highly publicized Fort Lauderdale matter. The resolution was designed to provide the client with an opportunity for treatment and a path toward dismissal of the criminal charges rather than traditional prosecution. The matter received significant South Florida media attention, and Johnston was quoted by Local 10 / WPLG regarding the case and the resolution that had been underway.
Not every successful defense ends in a trial. Philip Johnston evaluates the circumstances of each case and pursues the resolution that best serves the individual client — including diversion and treatment-focused alternatives where appropriate.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its individual facts and circumstances.
"Protecting the children of God who have fallen short of perfection from the wrath of those who think they have attained it."
— Philip C. Johnston ON HIS VIEW OF BEING A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Clients Are People First
Mr. Johnston believes clients should be viewed first and foremost as people. He does not approach criminal defense from a place of judgment.
Some clients should never have been charged in the first place. Others may have made a mistake but are facing consequences that are far greater than the circumstances warrant.
Mr. Johnston takes his clients' cases personally and approaches their defense with the same commitment he would bring to representing a relative or someone he cares about.
Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer Charge Dropped.
A charge carrying a mandatory felony conviction
The Samantha Caputo Matter
Philip C. Johnston represented Samantha Caputo after she was charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer following an incident at the Broward County jail. The offense carried a mandatory felony conviction upon conviction.
Johnston filed a sworn Motion to Dismiss and successfully obtained dismissal of the charge. Surveillance footage from the jail later became public, and the matter received extensive media coverage from CBS News Miami, WSVN 7News, and other South Florida outlets.
Johnston was interviewed extensively by WSVN 7News as Ms. Caputo's attorney, providing legal and factual commentary regarding his client's case and what he said was shown by the surveillance footage. CBS News Miami also interviewed Johnston regarding the matter.
Charge Dropped
Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
Mandatory Felony Conviction Avoided
Samantha Caputo · Represented by Philip C. Johnston
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its individual facts and circumstances.
Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer — Charge Dropped
CBS News Miami
Interviewed Johnston regarding the Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer charge against Samantha Caputo, surveillance footage from the Broward County Main Jail, and the criminal charges brought against three detention deputies.
"I thought this was one of the most reprehensible things I have seen as a criminal defense attorney."
— Philip C. Johnston, quoted by CBS News Miami
Read CoverageBattery on a Law Enforcement Officer — Charge Dropped
WSVN 7News
May 30, 2025
3 BSO Detention deputies charged after allegedly assaulting inmate in 2022. WSVN identified Johnston as Ms. Caputo's attorney and interviewed him extensively. Johnston obtained dismissal of the Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer charge against Ms. Caputo.
Quoted by WSVN 7News
Philip C. Johnston
Attorney for Samantha Caputo
Role
Co-Counsel
Matter
Federal Civil-Rights Litigation
Authority
42 U.S.C. § 1983
Philip C. Johnston continues to represent Samantha Caputo as co-counsel in related federal civil-rights litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The civil matter remains pending; no liability has been established and no damages have been awarded.
The Mar-a-Lago Residency Dispute
Philip C. Johnston represented Preserve Palm Beach in the widely reported legal controversy concerning whether former President Donald Trump could reside at Mar-a-Lago under the terms of a 1993 agreement with the Town of Palm Beach.
The dispute received national and international media attention as Palm Beach officials considered the interpretation of the agreement governing the property's operation as a private club. Johnston advocated on behalf of Preserve Palm Beach and was quoted in national reporting regarding the group's position.
Mar-a-Lago residency controversy
The New York Times
Can Trump Live in Mar-a-Lago? Palm Beach Leans Yes
February 9, 2021
Identified Johnston as attorney representing Preserve Palm Beach in the Palm Beach Town Council's consideration of the Mar-a-Lago residency issue.
Read CoverageMar-a-Lago Residency Dispute · Feb. 9, 2021
Forbes
Philip C. Johnston quoted by Forbes
Forbes reported on Philip C. Johnston's representation of Preserve Palm Beach during the dispute concerning former President Donald Trump's residency at Mar-a-Lago under the property's 1993 agreement with the Town of Palm Beach.
Read the Forbes CoverageMar-a-Lago Residency Dispute
Newsweek
Featured / Mentioned in Newsweek
Newsweek identified Philip C. Johnston as an attorney representing Preserve Palm Beach in connection with the dispute concerning former President Donald Trump's residency at Mar-a-Lago.
Read the Newsweek CoverageMar-a-Lago residency controversy
Der Spiegel
International coverage of the Palm Beach residency dispute, among the European outlets reporting on the matter.
South Florida criminal matters
Local 10 / WPLG
Ex-partner of Fort Lauderdale mayor dies by suicide one day after court appearance
April 9, 2026
Local 10 / WPLG identified Philip C. Johnston as attorney for his client in a highly publicized Fort Lauderdale criminal matter. Johnston had secured diversion and told Local 10 that the parties had been working toward a resolution focused on treatment and the eventual dismissal of the charges.
"We were on the path to a resolution, which would have gotten Danny the treatment he needed and led to the charges being dismissed."
— Philip C. Johnston, quoted by Local 10 / WPLG
Read the Local 10 Coverage
Family, Community & Life Outside the Law.
Outside the courthouse, Philip is committed to giving back to the South Florida community. He volunteers with local organizations alongside colleagues, family, and friends — including his paralegal Jennifer Sherman, pictured here at a Justice Project event.
Away from the law, Philip enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his adult children and the people closest to him. That balance — between rigorous advocacy and a full life outside the office — shapes the way he approaches every client relationship.
Speak Directly with Philip. Today.
When you contact Roderman & Johnston, you connect with a legal team that takes your case personally. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.