Office says goodbye to Prosecutor Cox
The office staff at the Prosecuting Attorney’s office bid Johnnie Cox farewell at a brunch on Tuesday, December 30. The staff is pictured above, from left to right, in the back row: Pat Sullivan, Assistant Prosecutor; and Christina Hammers, Assistant Prosecutor. Middle row: Deb Miller, support staff; Johnnie Cox, Prosecuting Attorney; and Chris Willyard, secretary to the Prosecuting Attorney. Front row: Alicia McManus, support staff; and Kasey Littlefield, support staff.
January 14, 2015
Charlea Mills
After 12 years as the Barry County Prosecuting Attorney, Johnnie Cox bid farewell to his office staff and began his new position as the Associate Circuit Division I Judge. During a brunch on December 30, Cox said his goodbyes to his office staff in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office and looked forward to taking on his new venture as judge.
When asked what he will miss leaving the position behind, he said, “I miss the people that I worked with on a daily basis, the Prosecutor’s staff, law enforcement, probation and parole, and all of the other agencies. I’ll also miss the satisfaction that comes from a successful prosecution of a case and the sense of closure and justice for the victims of crime.”
Cox has tried many cases over his 12 years, some of the most memorable being his first trials and murder trials. He said, “The first murder trial that my office tried was the State v. Dennis Bisher, and it was probably the most satisfying just because it was my first, and we got a murder in the first degree conviction.”
Cox also prosecuted Christopher Collings in the rape and murder of Rowan Ford. Cox said that the Collings trial was a four and a half year process and a month-long trial. Cox said, “The attorneys on the other side did everything possible to wear the victims, witnesses and my office down. They made every effort to increase the costs of the trial for the taxpayers of the county and state. But, if the murder and rape of a 9-year-old child doesn’t deserve the death penalty, why even have it as a punishment? In the end, it only took the jury 50 minutes to decide that Collings should be put to death.”
With so many years in the same office, his experiences as Prosecutor were vital to prepare him for his judgeship, and that included the hard work of his staff. Cox said, “When I came into office in 2003, I already had a great staff to work with, and, over the years, even after some people coming and going, the staff continued to provide Barry County with top notch service. I really don’t believe that the citizens always understand the stressful and sometimes chaotic work that happens at the Prosecutor’s office, yet they have always come through.”
Looking forward, Cox is ready for the challenges that being a judge will bring. He said, “I am looking forward to working in different areas of the law and having a greater hand in the management of the justice system in Barry County. It will be a completely different experience than being the Prosecuting Attorney, but in both circumstances, you are still a public servant and must do your best to see that the best possible service is provided to the citizens.”
Charlea Mills
After 12 years as the Barry County Prosecuting Attorney, Johnnie Cox bid farewell to his office staff and began his new position as the Associate Circuit Division I Judge. During a brunch on December 30, Cox said his goodbyes to his office staff in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office and looked forward to taking on his new venture as judge.
When asked what he will miss leaving the position behind, he said, “I miss the people that I worked with on a daily basis, the Prosecutor’s staff, law enforcement, probation and parole, and all of the other agencies. I’ll also miss the satisfaction that comes from a successful prosecution of a case and the sense of closure and justice for the victims of crime.”
Cox has tried many cases over his 12 years, some of the most memorable being his first trials and murder trials. He said, “The first murder trial that my office tried was the State v. Dennis Bisher, and it was probably the most satisfying just because it was my first, and we got a murder in the first degree conviction.”
Cox also prosecuted Christopher Collings in the rape and murder of Rowan Ford. Cox said that the Collings trial was a four and a half year process and a month-long trial. Cox said, “The attorneys on the other side did everything possible to wear the victims, witnesses and my office down. They made every effort to increase the costs of the trial for the taxpayers of the county and state. But, if the murder and rape of a 9-year-old child doesn’t deserve the death penalty, why even have it as a punishment? In the end, it only took the jury 50 minutes to decide that Collings should be put to death.”
With so many years in the same office, his experiences as Prosecutor were vital to prepare him for his judgeship, and that included the hard work of his staff. Cox said, “When I came into office in 2003, I already had a great staff to work with, and, over the years, even after some people coming and going, the staff continued to provide Barry County with top notch service. I really don’t believe that the citizens always understand the stressful and sometimes chaotic work that happens at the Prosecutor’s office, yet they have always come through.”
Looking forward, Cox is ready for the challenges that being a judge will bring. He said, “I am looking forward to working in different areas of the law and having a greater hand in the management of the justice system in Barry County. It will be a completely different experience than being the Prosecuting Attorney, but in both circumstances, you are still a public servant and must do your best to see that the best possible service is provided to the citizens.”
