Joseph Merkel
Joseph Merkel is running as a Republican for Commonwealth's Attorney, Greenup and Lewis Counties in Greenup and Lewis Counties, Kentucky, an open seat. The election was held on May 21, 2024.
Joseph J. Merkel is the current First Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Kentucky's 20th Judicial Circuit which includes Greenup and Lewis counties. He has served as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for the last 9 years. Over the course of his tenure, Merkel has worked with law enforcement partners to obtain felony convictions in hundreds of cases on behalf of the citizens of Greenup and Lewis counties.
Merkel serves at the forefront of the criminal justice system securing guilty verdicts at trial. In the last 24 months alone, Merkel tried 14 felony cases to verdict securing convictions at trial for the most serious offenses including: Murder, First-Degree Assault, First-Degree Rape, First-Degree Sodomy, and Attempted Murder. Since his appointment in 2015, Merkel has tried more felony criminal cases in the 20th Judicial Circuit than an other attorney.
Merkel is a career child advocate. As Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, Merkel works with child victims to prepare them to testify at trial. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in 2015, Merkel served as a Guardian Ad Litem where he advocated for children through the Boyd and Greenup County juvenile court system.
Merkel also volunteers as the legal advisor for his alma mater's High School Mock Trial team. He lives in Russell with his wife, Trish, and their two sons Parker and James.
Merkel serves at the forefront of the criminal justice system securing guilty verdicts at trial. In the last 24 months alone, Merkel tried 14 felony cases to verdict securing convictions at trial for the most serious offenses including: Murder, First-Degree Assault, First-Degree Rape, First-Degree Sodomy, and Attempted Murder. Since his appointment in 2015, Merkel has tried more felony criminal cases in the 20th Judicial Circuit than an other attorney.
Merkel is a career child advocate. As Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, Merkel works with child victims to prepare them to testify at trial. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in 2015, Merkel served as a Guardian Ad Litem where he advocated for children through the Boyd and Greenup County juvenile court system.
Merkel also volunteers as the legal advisor for his alma mater's High School Mock Trial team. He lives in Russell with his wife, Trish, and their two sons Parker and James.
