Meet #MOLawyers: Hon. Alok Ahuja
Vol. 82, No. 4 / July-August 2026
Hon. Alok Ahuja has served on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, since 2008 and was the court’s chief judge from 2014-2016. Ahuja previously practiced for 15 years in Kansas City with Lathrop & Gage (now Lathrop GPM), where his practice focused on appeals in state and federal courts in a wide variety of substantive areas like commercial, employment, bankruptcy, and intellectual property. Ahuja received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Kansas and his Juris Doctor from the Yale Law School. He will be speaking at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in September with Nina McDonnell during the CLE program, “From defective to reviewable: Points relied on under Rule 84.04(d).”
Why were you interested in becoming a judge? “I clerked for a federal appellate judge immediately after law school. I admired and respected him tremendously. I also loved the opportunity to participate in the process of deciding cases based on a disinterested view of the law and facts rather than advocating the interests of a particular client. It’s thrilling to be a (small) part of the process by which this community governs itself.”
What do you want members of the public to know about Missouri judges? “Missouri judges are hard working and are dedicated to applying the law in a fair and impartial manner. We continually strive to put aside our personal political and policy views and instead decide cases based on what the law requires. Missouri judges are dedicated to public service, and in many cases have given up more lucrative careers in the private sector to take on their judicial responsibilities.”
Your upcoming Annual Meeting CLE will focus on points relied on and give real-life examples from the courtroom. What key takeaways do you hope Missouri lawyers learn from the program? “… [T]he consequences of failing to draft proper points can be the dismissal of an appeal or the summary rejection of particular arguments. Our presentation at the Annual Meeting is intended to give lawyers practical advice on how to draft effective, rule-compliant points — beyond simply pointing to the fill-in-the-blank template contained in Rule 84.04(d).”
You’ve been involved in organizations focused on helping your community, including Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance in Kansas City. How has giving back to your community impacted you professionally? “I consider community outreach and community service to be a critical part of my duties as a judge. I am also hopeful that my community service encourages other members of the legal community to do likewise. Working with groups like LEAP and Operation Breakthrough has been enormously fulfilling on a personal level — I’ve taken far more out of the experience than I’ve ever put in.”
If you could time travel, which period would you choose to visit first? “To England in May 1966 to see Bob Dylan and The Band on their legendary tour promoting Dylan’s ‘Blonde on Blonde’ album. I can’t imagine many things more exciting than seeing a future Nobel laureate performing the work which would one day win him the award, in front of sometimes hostile, jeering crowds.”
Answers have been edited for clarity, brevity, and style. Know a lawyer who you think should be featured in “Meet #MOLawyers”? Submit their name to journal@mobar.org.