#MoBarNews: April 2023 recap

April was a time of celebration as The Missouri Bar welcomed dozens of new enrollees; lawyers expressed their gratitude during Court Staff Appreciation Week; and high school students showed off their constitutional knowledge during competition. Don’t miss these top stories from the month!

New Missouri lawyers sworn in during Spring 2023 Enrollment Ceremonies

About 50 new Missouri lawyers were sworn into the legal profession Friday, April 28, before the six of the seven judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri during two enrollment ceremonies at the Supreme Court of Missouri building in Jefferson City. For many of the new lawyers, it was a surreal moment. Read how two lawyers persevered to take their oath of admission.

Lawyers celebrate Court Staff Appreciation Week

Missouri’s court clerks serve as a liaison between the courts and the public, helping maintain accurate court records, summon jurors, and issue orders. In recent months, clerks and staff have also been asked to adapt to a variety of changes, from virtual hearings post-pandemic to expungement changes under Amendment 3 and the forthcoming expansion of remote public access to court records. April 17-21, lawyers showed extra appreciation for these dedicated workers by sending personal notes of appreciation, dropping off treats, and more. Here’s what Supreme Court of Missouri Chief Justice Paul C. Wilson and Missouri Bar President Lauren Tucker McCubbin had to say about this show of support.

March/April 2023 Journal hits stands, highlighting police pursuits

The latest issue of the Journal of The Missouri Bar arrived in mailboxes in April, with the main article diving into the question of duty, cause, and doctrine when a police pursuit escalates to a high-speed chase. The issue also includes a transcript of Supreme Court of Missouri Chief Justice Paul C. Wilson’s State of the Judiciary, where he discussed court staff, tech updates, treatment courts and more. Along with topics about the ethics of flat fees, unplugging while on vacations, and the upcoming expanded remote access, this is an issue you will definitely want to keep handy.

Joplin High School takes top score at mock congressional hearing competition

Joplin High School won first place at this year’s Show Me the Constitution, a mock congressional hearing competition. Seven schools competed April 3 in Columbia, and many of the students agreed they learned a valuable lesson – you’re never too young to debate large constitutional issues. Each school was given three controversial constitutional topics – Miranda rights, religious expression in public schools, and judicial review. Students had to research these subjects and present their arguments about them in front of a panel of volunteer judges comprised of lawyers, current and retired judges, and educators. Click here to read why both students and judges were inspired by this year’s competition.

Most popular story

As usual, the bar’s most popular articles were The Missouri Bar’s weekly case summaries, followed by March’s In Memoriam.

The bar provides links to all hand-downs by the Supreme Court of Missouri and the Missouri Court of Appeals each week online. There are headings and summaries for each case. Summaries are not part of the opinions of the Court. They have been prepared for the convenience of the reader and should not be quoted or cited.

Those wanting to pay tribute to a Missouri lawyer can submit an obituary here.

The Missouri Bar makes every effort to provide valuable information and resources through MoBar.org and MissouriLawyersHelp.org. To stay up to date, follow The Missouri Bar on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.