Executive summary: Reaffirmation

Mischa Buford Epps is executive director of The Missouri Bar.

How fitting that, on Constitution Day during our Annual Meeting and this 250th anniversary year of the founding of our nation, Chief Justice W. Brent Powell led Missouri lawyers from across the state in reaffirming our oath of admission. We reaffirmed our allegiance to the constitutions of the United States and Missouri; reaffirmed our commitment to truth and professional, civil, and ethical service; and reaffirmed our responsibility to advance civic understanding and assist our fellow Missourians. Thank you, Chief Justice Powell, for an inspiring address reminding us of the distinct honor and responsibilities that come with our oath as lawyers. Read the full address here.

At Annual Meeting, we also recognized several Missouri lawyers and judges who have made impactful contributions to their communities and our profession. Read more about these individuals at MoBar.org/Awards, and remember to nominate a deserving individual next year when nominations open. Thank you to the sponsors, attendees, presenters, volunteers, and staff who helped make this year’s Annual Meeting a success.

I also want to take a moment to thank our 2025-2026 Missouri Bar President Athena Dickson for her service to the profession over the last year and her leadership in strengthening efforts to educate the public on the role of courts, judicial selection, and Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan.

I also welcome our 2026-2027 Missouri Bar President Jennifer M. Crompton. As a trial lawyer and adjunct professor, she brings a passion for education and a wealth of experience that will redound to the bar this year. Please take a few minutes to read her first “President’s Page” column and profile piece in this issue of the Journal.

Like President Crompton’s passion for education, you too can make an impact through The Missouri Bar this year, whether you’re in your first year of practice or are one of the recently recognized Senior Counselors.

Reaffirm your commitment to being involved. Joining a committee is an excellent first step. There are nearly 40 to choose from, so there’s sure to be one that suits your interests. Many of them will convene virtually Nov. 16-19, where you can keep up with the latest developments, network, and gain practical takeaways to help you in your practice.

There are other opportunities to volunteer through the bar such as presenting a CLE program, writing an article for the Journal, providing pro bono services through Missouri.FreeLegalAnswers.org, or speaking to students or community groups through the Education Outreach Network. You can learn about these opportunities and more at MoBar.org/Get-Involved.

As voters prepare for elections Nov. 3, we have the opportunity to educate our fellow Missourians about Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan, also known as The Missouri Plan, which has been adopted by dozens of states in some form. Regardless of your political affiliation, I encourage you to vote and help your friends and family understand how The Missouri Plan works and the importance of retention elections.

To help in these efforts, the Missouri Judicial Performance Review Committee has completed its evaluations. The committee considered a variety of information about each of the 50 judges standing for retention, including lawyers’ ratings of the judges, jurors’ ratings of some trial judges, and written opinions from judges. Access these items and the committee’s recommendations at YourMissouriJudges.org.

Thanks to each of you who took the time to collaborate, encourage, and teach over the last year. Your contributions make not only our profession stronger, but our communities stronger. As we reaffirm our commitment and answer Chief Justice Powell’s call to action to use our education and privilege to serve others and endeavor every single day to fulfill our oath, I look forward to all we can accomplish together.