I)You can use Try
val cols = Try {(json \ "responseBody" \ "columns")}
you can match it:
cols match {
  case Success(value) => ???
  case Failure(exception) => 
              println(exception.getMessage)
}
II)You can convert it to Option to avoid exception
val cols = Try {(json \ "responseBody" \ "columns")}.toOption
It gives None or Some(value).
cols match {
case Some(value) => ???
case None => ??
}
II) You can use asOpt
val cols = (json \ "responseBody" \ "columns").asOpt[String].getOrElse("")  
          OR 
val cols = (json \ "responseBody" \ "columns").asOpt[String].orNull

1. You can use Try:

   val cols = Try {(json \ "responseBody" \ "columns")}
   

   you can match it:

   cols match {
     case Success(value) => ???
     case Failure(exception) => 
              println(exception.getMessage)
   }
   

2. You can convert it to Option to avoid exception

   val cols = Try {(json \ "responseBody" \ "columns")}.toOption
   

   It gives None or Some(value).

   cols match {
   case Some(value) => ???
   case None => ??
   }
   

3. You can use asOpt

   val cols = (json \ "responseBody" \ "columns").asOpt[String].getOrElse("")  
   

   OR

   val cols = (json \ "responseBody" \ "columns").asOpt[String].orNull