Joe Butner started practicing law in 1978. He began his career in Phoenix, Arizona as a civil and criminal trial lawyer and opened his own office in Scottsdale in 1983. After closing his office in Scottsdale, he joined the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office where he worked as a prosecutor trying cases ranging from Capital Murder to D.U.I. Joe was elected Justice of the Peace for the Verde Valley Justice Court and assumed the duties of Cottonwood City Magistrate. He then became the Chief Judge for the Yavapai-Apache Tribal Court. Thereafter, he was appointed as a Pro Tem Judge of the Yavapai County Superior Court where he served for numerous years. Joe Butner has served on the Town Council of Camp Verde, Arizona as Vice-Mayor and presently serves as President of the Prescott Frontier Days Foundation, Inc.

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Joe is a past President of the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo. He now practices law with Musgrove Drutz Butner and Gautreaux, PC, of which his son, Josh Butner, is a named partner.