Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell

11/14/2025

Humbled to receive the Justice Martin E. Johnstone Special Recognition Award, the highest honor from the Louisville Bar Association. As a personal friend of the award's namesake, I was especially grateful for the recognition and that so many of my family and colleagues were able to join me in the celebration.

https://louisvilleky.gov/news/jefferson-county-attorney-mike-oconnell-receives-louisville-bar-associations-highest-honor

09/24/2025

"John Aubrey answered the call of his country and his community throughout his distinguished career. Sheriff Aubrey was a committed public servant and personal friend. His tenure as Jefferson County sheriff was highlighted by increased professionalism in the sheriff’s office. His stature among sheriffs in Kentucky and throughout the United States was unmatched.

"For his 25 years in elected office to come after more than 30 years in the U.S. Army, entering as private and rising to Colonel, and his retirement as Chief of the Louisville Police Department is a life of civic work truly worthy of recognition."

-Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell following the death of Jefferson County Sheriff John Aubrey.

09/10/2025

“Bobbie Holsclaw was a great public servant. Voters in Jefferson County clearly felt that way in returning her to the Clerk’s office seven times and for more than a quarter century. My staff and I have always been proud to represent Bobbie’s office and the Board of Elections. I will miss her dedication, commitment to our community, and her good-natured feistiness. We were fortunate to serve together at a time when strong working relationships and cooperation between elected officials of different parties was unremarkable and not the rarity it is today.” -Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell
Office of Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw

07/23/2025

Incredibly proud of the service our 350 team members in the Jefferson County Attorney's Office provide to our community, both as public employees and during their personal time.

Victim Advocate Leslie Hansford is a prime example in her office work with survivors of domestic violence and also her contributions to local pet owners and the houseless community as director of Louisville nonprofit My Dog Eats First.

Well deserved spotlight to Leslie!

As the new director, Hansford wants to expand the range of Louisville residents helped by My Dog Eats First.

01/29/2025

I was honored to join my team in Frankfort recently to receive a top statewide Child Support award as the Contracting Official of the Year. One of our office’s employees, Pay Window Attendant Zane Brenzel, also received a statewide honor, taking home the Tim Olds Outstanding Customer Service Award.

These awards are simply the latest acknowledgement of the high level of service and the important work our staff provides daily to the citizens of Jefferson County.

Deserving children and parents, like mom Jackie Boyatt featured in this WDRB News story, are the real winners when we invest in these critical government services. Thank you to the more than 150 Child Support employees in my office who worked to collect more than $48.5 million in support in 2024.

Jefferson County's Child Support Division has been recognized by the state for its efforts in collecting nearly millions of dollars in child support

08/16/2024

I am honored to come to work each day as your Jefferson County Attorney. Today marks a milestone I could have never have eclipsed without the support of the people of Louisville and the incredible work of my staff, past and present. Thank you.

This week, the Jefferson County attorney reaches a major milestone.

02/02/2024

Thanks to all who took the time to stop by for our open house at our new office space at 500W - Louisville. This is the new home for our administrative and criminal staff.

We used the celebration to dedicate our main conference room in the memory of former First Assistant Julie Hardesty. It was a special moment to have Julie's eldest child John and his daughter, Juliana, join us.

We love our new space and thanks to Mayor Craig Greenberg, Louisville Metro Council and all who have helped make this move possible.

11/20/2023

The Jefferson County Attorney's Office will relocate two of its three divisions by year’s end to better serve the public and employees.

The administrative office and Criminal Divisions will move on November 28. The Domestic Violence Intake Center, Warrant Intake and Restitution offices will remain in the Hall of Justice.

The Child Support Division at 315 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. will close to the public on December 22, 2023 and reopen at Watterson Tower (1930 Bishop Lane, Suite 100) on January 2, 2024. See the WDRB news story for more details.

The main office and the Criminal Division will move to 500W, while the Child Support Division will move to Watterson Office Park.

10/19/2023

Many of our Criminal Division staff joined today to bring attention to the crime of intimate partner violence and show our support for survivors. Proud to work with other justice partners to operate the Domestic Violence Intake Center for those experiencing abuse and to prosecute cases in Jefferson County to hold offenders accountable. The Center for Women and Families

09/30/2022

A bittersweet week for our office as we have celebrated the career and retirement of First Assistant Ingrid Geiser. Ingrid is the consummate public servant who showed special care for and a passion for helping victims during her time both with County Attorney's office and with the office of the Commonwealth Attorney. She will be greatly missed and we wish her the best as she writes the next chapter in her book.

04/04/2022

Courtrooms are places where words should be used to resolve our differences, not weapons.

House Bill 690 would allow any lawyer licensed in Kentucky to bring a gun into the courtroom. Today, I joined State Senator Morgan McGarvey, along with State Representative Joni Jenkins, Commonwealth Attorney Tom Wine, Sheriff John Aubrey, and local District, Circuit and Family Court judges to call on Governor Andy Beshear to veto the bill and for the General Assembly not to override the Governor's veto.

Bringing guns into courtrooms, where tensions can oftentimes be high, is dangerous and bad policy.

House Bill 690 passed with an amendment that would allow licensed attorneys to carry guns in court. Judges and prosecutors want it vetoed by Beshear.

03/21/2022

Important evening this weekend supporting The Center for Women and Families with some of our Special Victims Unit prosecutors and advocates at the Celebration of Service and Survival.

Each year our office supports approximately 4,000 victims of intimate partner violence through our Domestic Violence Intake Center and criminal prosecution. The Center is a critical partner in our work and it was a great honor to personally receive their Public Service Award in 2017.