Keokuk, Washington hire assistant county attorney

Keokuk County Attorney John E. Schroeder has selected John W. Gish as assistant Keokuk and Washington County attorney effective Jan. 11, 2016.

As assistant county attorney to Keokuk and Washington counties, he will be performing the various duties of both offices, concentrating primarily in criminal prosecutions and juvenile court work.

Washington County Attorney Shawn Showers said the Washington County Board of Supervisors approved the new hire as a 28E sharing agreement in September 2015.

Assistant Washington County Attorney Jennifer Lerner remains on the Washington County staff.

Showers estimated that Gish would work approximately 20 hours per week in Washington County.

The employment decision was made by both counties on the basis of the significant increase in the gravity and volume of caseloads. Both counties will share the cost of the position equally.

?Certainly, our criminal caseload has increased,? Showers said.

Gish is a native of Wisconsin. He completed his undergraduate degree at Iowa State University and graduated from Drake Law School in 2013. He has been employed by Disability Rights Iowa since his graduation from Drake.

He is currently residing in Waukee with his wife, Nicole. They have a 4-year-old daughter and are expecting another child in February. He is a member of the Army Reserve, was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and continues serving as a captain in the Army Reserve.

Gish and his family will be relocating to the area in upcoming months.