diff --git a/labelImg.py b/labelImg.py
index 8e6348b8..efd8a297 100755
--- a/labelImg.py
+++ b/labelImg.py
@@ -1123,6 +1123,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow, WindowMixin):
                                         u"<p>Make sure <i>%s</i> is a valid label file.")
                                        % (e, unicode_file_path))
                     self.status("Error reading %s" % unicode_file_path)
+                    
                     return False
                 self.image_data = self.label_file.image_data
                 self.line_color = QColor(*self.label_file.lineColor)
@@ -1156,7 +1157,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow, WindowMixin):
             self.paint_canvas()
             self.add_recent_file(self.file_path)
             self.toggle_actions(True)
-            self.show_bounding_box_from_annotation_file(file_path)
+            self.show_bounding_box_from_annotation_file(self.file_path)
 
             counter = self.counter_str()
             self.setWindowTitle(__appname__ + ' ' + file_path + ' ' + counter)
@@ -1196,10 +1197,15 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow, WindowMixin):
         else:
             xml_path = os.path.splitext(file_path)[0] + XML_EXT
             txt_path = os.path.splitext(file_path)[0] + TXT_EXT
+            json_path = os.path.splitext(file_path)[0] + JSON_EXT
+
             if os.path.isfile(xml_path):
                 self.load_pascal_xml_by_filename(xml_path)
             elif os.path.isfile(txt_path):
                 self.load_yolo_txt_by_filename(txt_path)
+            elif os.path.isfile(json_path):
+                self.load_create_ml_json_by_filename(json_path, file_path)
+            
 
     def resizeEvent(self, event):
         if self.canvas and not self.image.isNull()\
@@ -1300,10 +1306,13 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow, WindowMixin):
         if dir_path is not None and len(dir_path) > 1:
             self.default_save_dir = dir_path
 
+        self.show_bounding_box_from_annotation_file(self.file_path)
+
         self.statusBar().showMessage('%s . Annotation will be saved to %s' %
                                      ('Change saved folder', self.default_save_dir))
         self.statusBar().show()
 
+
     def open_annotation_dialog(self, _value=False):
         if self.file_path is None:
             self.statusBar().showMessage('Please select image first')
@@ -1320,6 +1329,17 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow, WindowMixin):
                     filename = filename[0]
             self.load_pascal_xml_by_filename(filename)
 
+        elif self.label_file_format == LabelFileFormat.CREATE_ML:
+            
+            filters = "Open Annotation JSON file (%s)" % ' '.join(['*.json'])
+            filename = ustr(QFileDialog.getOpenFileName(self, '%s - Choose a json file' % __appname__, path, filters))
+            if filename:
+                if isinstance(filename, (tuple, list)):
+                    filename = filename[0]
+
+            self.load_create_ml_json_by_filename(filename, self.file_path)         
+        
+
     def open_dir_dialog(self, _value=False, dir_path=None, silent=False):
         if not self.may_continue():
             return
@@ -1337,6 +1357,9 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow, WindowMixin):
             target_dir_path = ustr(default_open_dir_path)
         self.last_open_dir = target_dir_path
         self.import_dir_images(target_dir_path)
+        self.default_save_dir = target_dir_path
+        if self.file_path:
+            self.show_bounding_box_from_annotation_file(file_path=self.file_path)
 
     def import_dir_images(self, dir_path):
         if not self.may_continue() or not dir_path:
diff --git a/libs/create_ml_io.py b/libs/create_ml_io.py
index 52666cee..3aca8d67 100644
--- a/libs/create_ml_io.py
+++ b/libs/create_ml_io.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class CreateMLWriter:
 
         output_image_dict = {
             "image": self.filename,
+            "verified": self.verified,
             "annotations": []
         }
 
@@ -107,12 +108,15 @@ class CreateMLReader:
         with open(self.json_path, "r") as file:
             input_data = file.read()
 
-        output_dict = json.loads(input_data)
-        self.verified = True
+        # Returns a list
+        output_list = json.loads(input_data)
+
+        if output_list:
+            self.verified = output_list[0].get("verified", False)
 
         if len(self.shapes) > 0:
             self.shapes = []
-        for image in output_dict:
+        for image in output_list:
             if image["image"] == self.filename:
                 for shape in image["annotations"]:
                     self.add_shape(shape["label"], shape["coordinates"])
diff --git a/libs/labelFile.py b/libs/labelFile.py
index 3142fea2..185570bc 100644
--- a/libs/labelFile.py
+++ b/libs/labelFile.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class LabelFile(object):
                                 image_shape, shapes, filename, local_img_path=image_path)
         writer.verified = self.verified
         writer.write()
+        return
 
 
     def save_pascal_voc_format(self, filename, shapes, image_path, image_data,
diff --git a/tests/test_io.py b/tests/test_io.py
index 242de53d..7bc31b3a 100644
--- a/tests/test_io.py
+++ b/tests/test_io.py
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ class TestCreateMLRW(unittest.TestCase):
 
         writer = CreateMLWriter('tests', 'test.512.512.bmp', (512, 512, 1), shapes, output_file,
                                 local_img_path='tests/test.512.512.bmp')
+        
+        writer.verified = True
         writer.write()
 
         # check written json
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ class TestCreateMLRW(unittest.TestCase):
 
         import json
         data_dict = json.loads(input_data)[0]
-
+        self.assertEqual(True, data_dict['verified'], 'verified tag not reflected')
         self.assertEqual('test.512.512.bmp', data_dict['image'], 'filename not correct in .json')
         self.assertEqual(2, len(data_dict['annotations']), 'output file contains to less annotations')
         face = data_dict['annotations'][1]