Scott T. Johnston was raised on a sugar beet, potato, and grain farm near Grafton, North Dakota. After graduating from Grafton High School, he attended North Dakota State University (Home of the Mighty Bison), graduating in 1976 with Honors and receiving a B.S. in Business Economics. Scott then attended the University of North Dakota School of Law (Home of the Fighting Sioux), during which time he was a law clerk for 2 years with the Grand Forks law firm of Nelson and Kalash. He graduated 10th in his class from the UND Law School Class of 1979.
After passing the Minnesota and North Dakota bar exams, Scott joined the Alexandria, Minnesota law firm of Thornton, Hegg, and Reif as an associate attorney, becoming a partner in the firm Thornton, Hegg, Reif, and Johnston in 1980, with whom he practiced until 1998. At that time, he formed Johnston Law Office.
Scott concentrates his practice in the areas of business, corporate, real estate, banking, and transactional law. He is a real estate specialist, as certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association, has served on the M.S.B.A. Real Property Council, and is the Douglas County Examiner of Titles. Scott is licensed to practice law in State and Federal Courts in the State of Minnesota.
Scott has been involved in numerous community activities, including service in various offices and boards for the Alexandria Sertoma Club, Alexandria United Methodist Church, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Alexandria Community Foundation, and the Douglas County Developmental Achievement Center.
Scott has been an avid hunter, including waterfowl, pheasants, deer, elk, and moose. He has also been an active cyclist, skier (cross country, downhill, and water), and pickleball player. Scott and his wife, Vicki, have two children and seven grandchildren, all of whom have been active in the 4-H Livestock programs, raising pigs, beef cattle, rabbits, Arabian horses, miniature horses, goats, sheep, llamas, and chickens at various times in the past.
