Joseph R. Johns attended Northern Kentucky University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History in 2007 and in 2010 his Juris Doctorate from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, where he was named to the National Order of Scribes. He was admitted into the practice of law in 2010 and has maintained a general practice at the Law Offices of Votaw & Schwarz, located in the Historic Downtown District of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. His practice has been centered practice areas including criminal defense, family law, and municipal law. Through his general practice, he has acted as counsel for the City of Lawrenceburg’s Planning Commission, Board of Zoning and Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission, as well as the City of Rising Sun’s Planning Commission and Board of Zoning and Appeals. Joseph R. Johns was appointed to serve as the Judge of Lawrenceburg City Court (a limited jurisdiction court), by Vice President Mike Pence, during his term as Governor, and took the Oath of Office on February 16, 2016. He currently maintains his practice at Votaw & Schwarz, continuing to focus on areas of practice within family and domestic law.

He is a member of the Dearborn-Ohio County Bar Association, the Indiana Bar Association, the American Bar Association, National Academy of Family Attorneys, the Indiana City and Town Court Judges Association and the National Order of Legal Scribes, and is admitted to practice before the State of Indiana and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Joseph R. Johns currently serves on the Board of Warm the Children, which assists in providing warm clothing and goods to children in need; is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, an organization dedicated to the support of the American Legion and the advocacy for veteran’s issues; and serves as a Committee member on the Indiana City and Town Court Judges Association, Legislative Committee. His past organization involvement includes being a board member of the Lawrenceburg Main Street Organization, a member of the United States Quad Rugby Association, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.