Nixon appoints John J. Garrabrant as new Ozark County prosecuting attorney

A former prosecuting attorney in Texas County has been appointed to the same post in Ozark County.

Gov. Jay Nixon announced Friday that John J. Garrabrant will assume the position that became vacant upon the retirement of former prosecuting attorney Tom Cline. 

“John Garrabrant brings a depth of legal knowledge and expertise from both the private and public sector, including having previously served in the prosecutors’ office of four other counties,” Nixon said. “I am confident that his decades of experience will be invaluable as he serves the citizens of Ozark County as their new prosecuting attorney.”  

Garrabrant has served the past five years as the senior assistant prosecuting attorney in Phelps County. He previously was appointed as prosecuting attorney for Maries County, serving from 1999 to 2001, and elected as prosecuting attorney in Texas County, serving from 1995-’98. Garrabrant also was an assistant prosecutor in Texas and Wright counties. He is a former municipal judge for the City of Houston.

Garrabrant has also worked as an attorney in private practice, most recently with the firm Thomas, Birdsong Mills and McBride in Rolla. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri.