Office of the Johnson County, Iowa Attorney

05/29/2026

Yesterday we were excited to have the UI Law School's Legal Intern Class at the Johnson County Courthouse. The class got to witness some daily courthouse happenings, a mock trial with Assistant Johnson County Attorney Mike Lang sitting in as the "judge," and Assistant County Attorney Jake and our current intern, Sara, showing the intern class what a non-jury trial in magistrate court might look like (with a little help from our friends at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office)! The intern class got some insight and tips from our staff, and then had a chance to chat with District Associate Judge Schrock and DA Judge Burns, who also had some really valuable experience and stories to pass along to the interns.

Thank you to our Judges, the Sheriff's Office, and the courthouse staff for making the class feel welcome!

05/27/2026

Following the April 19, 2026, shooting in the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall, Iowa City Police have worked to identify individuals involved in the shooting and in the large fight that preceded it.

05/26/2026

The Johnson County Attorney’s Office is currently closed due to a power outage. We are expected to open at 11:00am today.

05/25/2026

We're hiring a Legal Assistant III to join our Office of the Johnson County, Iowa Attorney team. Apply at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/jobs.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we join our community in honoring the ultimate sacrifice made by the brave service members who gave everything to protect our freedom and our country.

As we gather with family and friends this weekend, let’s take a moment to remember those who cannot be with us — and the families who hold their legacies close.

05/21/2026

For Immediate Release

Over the State’s Objection Owner James Watts Granted a Deferred Judgement for Failure to Maintain Workers Comp Insurance

May 21, 2026 (JOHNSON COUNTY, IA) –James Watts and his company Hawkeye Waste Systems, Inc. were sentenced today for Failure to Maintain Workers Compensation Insurance, a Class D Felony. Watts pled guilty to the Class D Felony charges in January 2026. Over objection from Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith, District Associate Court Judge Jason Burns granted Watts’s request for a deferred judgment and placed him on probation for a period of 3 years. Along with the standard conditions of probation, Watts will also be required to maintain appropriate insurance on every business for which he is responsible. Watts owns businesses that operate in several counties in Iowa.

If Watts successfully completes probation, his record will be expunged.

Zimmermann Smith said, “Regardless of the sentence, holding the Defendant accountable shows that disregard for workers and the laws that protect them will not be tolerated.”

In April 2025, charges were filed against Hawkeye Waste Systems, James Watts, and three of its employees and corporate officers for Failure to Maintain Worker’s Compensation Insurance after an employee died after a workplace accident at their Iowa City location. Matthew Reuwsaat died on November 9, 2024, from injuries sustained in a workplace incident. An investigation by the Iowa Division of Worker’s Compensation revealed that Hawkeye Waste Systems did not have worker’s compensation.

To check on whether a business carries worker’s compensation insurance, you can go to the Workers Compensation Verification Website at https://www.ewccv.com/cvs/

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05/21/2026

For the third year, United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, Johnson County Community Violence Intervention, Salvation Army, Open Heartland, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County are collaborating to organize the Ready, Set, School! school-supply and backpack distribution for families in need.

The Distribution will take place on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15 on the Johnson County Fairgrounds. We anticipate serving at least 2000 students.

Businesses and individuals are invited to support this effort in the following ways:

Donate funds (individuals)
Become a corporate sponsor (business and organizations)
Purchase supplies
Host a supply drive

More information and donation link can be found here: www.unitedwayjwc.org/backtoschool .

Businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring this event are encouraged to email Dina Bishara for more information: [email protected]

Inquiries about supply drives or purchasing supplies and backpacks can be directed to Raine Messamaker:
[email protected]

“This is a true, collaborative effort,” says Dina Bishara, Director of Community Engagement at Big Brothers Big Sisters. “We have been blown away by the community’s support for our previous two distribution events and are confident that with our community’s support, the 2026 Ready, Set, School! will be our most successful to date. We are extremely grateful to Scheels, who is our Presenting Sponsor.”

05/18/2026

We'd like to congratulate our legal intern, Noah, on his graduation from the The University of Iowa College of Law! Noah was a great asset to our team and will be missed! We can't wait to see what he does next.

Learn more about the UI Intern Program and our interns in this article.

Many future prosecutors and judges learned life and legal lessons during a University of Iowa College of Law intern program that helped shape their demeanor and ethics, gain experience in

05/13/2026

Our office was grateful for the opportunity to join fellow Johnson County elected officials Johnson County Sheriff's Office Johnson County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections and the Johnson County Treasurer's Office at a recent City of Tiffin, Iowa City Council meeting to share updates from our respective offices and connect directly with council members and community residents.

Thank you to the Tiffin City Council for the warm welcome and for hosting us. These visits are an important part of keeping local government accessible and transparent.

05/11/2026

Last week, our JCAO attorneys gathered with fellow Johnson County attorneys to commemorate Law Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Johnson County Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association hosted a ceremony where the attorneys reaffirmed their oaths to support the Constitution, uphold due process, and oppose actions that threaten these principles.

Thank you to our hosts, our Johnson County Supervisors who presented an American Flag honoring our country’s 250th Anniversary, and to everyone who joined us for the ceremony.