Goodwin, Lanahan, Lehmberg awarded for outstanding appellate work
Gregory M. Goodwin, Maria A. Lanahan, and Christian E. Lehmberg will receive this year’s Missouri Bar Foundation David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Awards.
The David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in appellate practice by three lawyers who are 39 years old or younger. The award is named after the late Hon. David J. Dixon, whose tenacity, professionalism, and judicial skills epitomize outstanding appellate practice.
Goodwin, Lanahan, and Lehmberg will receive their awards Sept. 18 in St. Louis during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference.
Goodwin
A native of Kirksville, Goodwin is chief counsel to the Public Protection Section at the Missouri Attorney General's Office. Goodwin has tried several civil and criminal cases to verdict and has litigated cases in each district of the Missouri Court of Appeals; the Supreme Court of Missouri; the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri; the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals; and the U.S. Supreme Court.
As a first-generation lawyer, Goodwin said he is honored to receive one of the 2024 Dixon awards.
“Every day, I have the privilege to drive Missouri law forward and towards justice for victims,” Goodwin said. “Appellate work is more than just the pure application of facts to law; it is a chance to preserve hard-earned finality on behalf of crime victims.”
Lanahan
Lanahan is a deputy solicitor for the Missouri Attorney General and responsible for representing the attorney general and other Missouri government officials and departments during appeals. She has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court, Missouri Court of Appeals, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Lanahan said she is “proud” to represent the state and its various entities and particularly enjoys defending laws passed by the Missouri Legislature “as this defends our democratic legislative process.” She added her favorite cases involve litigating provisions in the Missouri Constitution that are often not litigated since that involves a plethora of original research and client collaboration.
A graduate of the University of Chicago School of Law, Lanahan was previously a lawyer at Thompson Coburn and senior manager in litigation at Charter Communications. She clerked for Hon. Brian K. Zahra, with the Supreme Court of Michigan, and Hon. Raymond W. Gruender, of the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“I have worked for two great appellate judges, and watching them do their jobs has really fueled my passion for appellate law,” she said. “The job of an appellate judge is to say what the law is, not what it should be. As an advocate, my job is to help appellate judges understand and see the full picture so that they can make a well-informed decision on the case.”
Lanahan said she appreciates her family, professors, judges, and mentors who have supported her and helped her grow professionally. She not only encouraged young lawyers to have a support system, but also to also remember to step out of their comfort zones and seek constructive feedback.
Lehmberg
A graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law, Lehmberg is a public defender with the Missouri Public Defender Office central appellate office. As a public defender, he has represented over 100 indigent people after they were convicted of felonies or misdemeanors in each of the state’s appellate court districts and the Supreme Court of Missouri.
Lehmberg’s passion for law and appellate work comes from his appreciation for justice and fairness for everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
“The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives and uphold the principles of justice motivates me every day,” he said.
Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2024 award winners here.