David P. Joyce is the 39th Prosecuting Attorney of Geauga County.
As the Geauga County Prosecuting Attorney, Dave currently oversees and manages an office of 16 employees, which includes assistant prosecuting attorneys and support staff. The office prosecutes felony matters committed by adults and all matters involving juveniles. The office also serves as legal counsel for all county officials, county agencies, townships and school boards.
Dave was appointed to his position on January 5, 1988. That evening he told the people that he was going to work closely with law enforcement to reduce crime in our county. Further Dave wanted to work closely with the county commissioners and township trustees to grow our county in the way the people saw fit and not the courts or developers. In 2008 Forbes Magazine named Geauga County the 4th best county in the nation to raise a family and cited the low crime rate and solid housing stock.
The priority of the office has always been to provide the highest quality legal work in a cost efficient manner. Dave has hired and retained some of the best and brightest lawyers through his active management, training and creativity. By providing his assistant prosecutors with the tools to work in the office or at home when necessary to address the needs of their families, Dave earned the recognition of the Ohio State Women’s Bar Association and was presented with the Family Friendly Workplace Award in 2005. Many of the assistant prosecutors who eventually left the office can be found in the judiciary and legislative branches of government as well as leading law firms and corporations.
After the election of 1988 Dave joined with then Lake County Prosecuting Attorney Steven C. LaTourette to combine their offices to handle matters involving conflicts with clients and to allow for joint training and extra manpower in the event of a disaster. The benefits of this arrangement proved useful during the Kirtland cult murders. The Lake County News Herald opined at the time that, “this arrangement is the high water mark on how government should operate.” Since then Dave has assisted in numerous counties throughout Ohio as a special prosecutor and some of his case and trial work has been featured on national shows such as CBS 48 Hours.
Dave cares deeply about children, families and education. His efforts to put extra resources into the Child Support Enforcement Division of his office brought state-wide recognition for excellence in collection of delinquent support obligations. Dave also believes that tax money collected for educating students should be used to educate students. The Plain Dealer documented how Dave has diligently dissuaded any school districts from spending public monies on outside legal services.
Dave is a member of the National District Attorney Association and the Ohio Prosecuting Attorney Association where he serves on the Executive, Legislative and Training committees. He is also a Founding Member as well as current Director of the Geauga Bluecoats Inc., an organization that cares for fallen or permanently injured members of our safety forces and their families.
A highlight of the campaign in 1988 was Dave meeting a fellow West Geauga High School grad who later became his wife. Dave and Kelly wed in 1990 and have three children Trenton, KK, and Bridey. The family resides in Russell Township.