Meet Jewell County's new county attorneys

Alex Carabajal, Jewell County attorney, was born and raised in Jewell until she was 9-years-old. Then she moved to Mankato where she has lived since. She went to Randall Elementary until fourth grade.She then transferred to Rock Hills where she graduated.

Carabajal enjoys working on the house she bought in January. She also enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons, as well as being the high school cheer coach.

Carabajal met her husband when she was in Kansas University's law school. They will have been married for three years in September. Carabajal has four cats.

Before becoming the Jewell County attorney, Carabajal was the assistant county attorney for Mitchell County for two years, clerk for Shawnee County Courts for a summer and a legal secretary for Fraiser, Johnson & Martin in Beloit.

"This is my hometown and I love it," Carabajal said about why she chose Mankato. "I wanted to come back and serve my community and see it thrive." She said her favorite part of living and working in a small town is knowing someone is always looking out for you and knowing family is just a phone call away."

As county attorney, Carabajal is responsible for anything ranging from traffic tickets to serious victim offenses. She is in charge of any contract work the county commissioners need. She does everything from filing charges to trials to sentencing. Carabajal also seeks justice for children who are victims of neglect and abuse.

COVID has affected Carabajal by making all of court, which used to be in person 100 percent, virtual. It has also impacted face-to-face interaction with opposing council, defendants and judges.

Carabajal has worked in this field for six years. She enjoys the new challenges she is presented with every day by her job. The hardest part of being a county attorney, according to Carabajal, is handling traumatic crimes, specifically victims of sexual abuse and child victims.

Carabajal is inspired by her parents who were Mankato High School sweethearts. They started a business in Mankato and thrived through hardwork and perseverance. She is also inspired by female attorneys and judges who started out when law was a male dominated field.

"I'm doing my best every day to make our town a safe place," Carabajal said.