Judge Joseph L. Hensley

Judge Hensley graduated with honors from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 1995, and received his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1998. After practicing in Springfield, Missouri for four years at Neale & Newman, LLP, he relocated to Joplin, Missouri in 2002 and opened The Hensley Law Firm, L.L.C. In addition to his private practice, he served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Jasper County Juvenile Office from 2003 until 2007. He was also Jasper County special prosecutor until 2007 when he partnered with John Nicholas to form Hensley & Nicholas, L.L.C.

In his private practice he handled general civil litigation, family law, appeals, and a special emphasis in juvenile and adoption law. He appeared in state courts throughout southwest Missouri, and frequently argued cases before the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. In 2013, Hensley was inducted into the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), an international association of approximately 470 attorneys, judges and law professors throughout the world who distinguished themselves in the field of adoption law and are dedicated to the highest standards of practice in the field. He was vice-chair of the Missouri Bar’s Juvenile Courts and Laws Committee, a certified Guardian ad Litem, a licensed mediator, an alumni of the Missouri Bar Leadership Academy, a former adjunct professor at Drury University, and a graduate of the Harvard Law School’s Judicial Executive Leadership Program.

In November of 2014, Mr. Hensley was elected Jasper County Associate Circuit Judge of Division 5, and took office on December 30, 2014. His dockets are among the most diverse in Jasper County, including civil cases from small claims cases to multi-million dollar class action lawsuits, criminal cases from low level misdemeanors to class A felonies, administrative hearing reviews, and juvenile cases. In 2017, he was appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court’s Task Force on Criminal Justice. In 2019, he was the first associate circuit judge in Jasper County appointed to a presiding judge position, as the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge. In September of 2022 at the annual meeting of the Missouri Bar, Judge Hensley received the Theodore McMillian Judicial Excellence Award. Established in 2004, the award recognizes judges who have inspired others of the judiciary through their integrity and leadership to help advance the administration of justice and provide outstanding public and community services to Missouri residents. At the annual meeting in September of 2024, Judge Hensley was one of the two associate judges in the state to receive the Judicial Excellence Award from the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court.

Outside of his judicial responsibilities Judge Hensley has been or is currently a Board Member of The Joplin Family Y, Board Member of Hope 4 You Breast Cancer Foundation, Board member of Crimestoppers, Board Member of the R-7 Scholarship Foundation, Board Member of Fostering Hope, and Member of the Carl Junction Lions Club. Judge Hensley lives in Joplin with his wife and two children.