Angela B. Kennedy, St. Louis, and Karly Weigel, Kansas City, have been appointed by The Missouri Bar’s Board of Governors as members of the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee. The term begins Feb. 1, 2024, and ends Jan. 31, 2028. 

The Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee’s goal is to provide an efficient, private, cost-effective, and voluntary mechanism for resolving economic and professional disputes between and among lawyers. This program is intended to protect the interests of clients and benefit the judicial system, the public, and the profession by preventing additional burdens on Missouri’s court system. 

 Below, Weigel shares her goals for her time on the committee. 

What made you interested in the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee? 

I applied for the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee to give back to The Missouri Bar. I routinely handle high-emotion and, at times, high-stakes employment law matters. Disputes between lawyers are similar in this way. I learned early on the importance of resolution. I am excited to dig-in and creatively help attorneys reach a resolution that both parties can live with.    

What are your goals for your time on the committee? 

My main goal is to bring finality and closure to at least one Missouri attorney through the dispute resolution process. Resolution allows the attorneys to carry on with their lives.   

 What would you like Missouri lawyers you represent to know about you? 

On a professional note, I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get to work. On a personal note, I enjoy scuba diving. My favorite dive was at the Molokini Crater off Maui.  

What do you value most about The Missouri Bar and its mission? 

I enjoy reading the Journal of The Missouri Bar. The publication is well-written, comprehensive, and timely. The Journal upholds The Missouri Bar’s mission to provide education to improve the competence of Missouri attorneys. 

 Kennedy’s objectives for her time on the committee are below. 

What made you interested in the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee? 

I’ve seen the damage that lawyer infighting can do to client relationships and the legal profession writ large. In my practice, I often deal with business break-ups, and what better way to apply that experience than by supporting my fellow attorneys who find themselves in a similar situation? Disputes between lawyers have ripple effects—impacting clients, colleagues, and the court—and I see this committee as a powerful tool for protecting not only clients and other involved parties, but also the image of the legal profession. 

What are your goals for your time on the committee? 

I would love more people to know about the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Program. Too often, lawyers are so busy handling other people’s disputes that they leave their own unresolved. One of my goals as a member of the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee is to make sure lawyers and law firms know that this resource is available to them through The Missouri Bar. 

What would you like the Missouri lawyers you represent to know about you? 

I am a partner at Armstrong Teasdale, LLP in St. Louis, Missouri. I have worked with The Missouri Bar’s Leadership Academy for the last three years, and I am very excited to continue supporting the bar and its members through the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee. My small army of three children, a dog, beehives, and three chickens keep me busy when I’m not actively lawyering.    

What do you value most about The Missouri Bar and its mission? 

I appreciate the commitment of The Missouri Bar to its members. I feel better equipped to serve my clients and community because of my participation in The Missouri Bar. The staff and volunteer leadership are so dedicated, and they are always ready to take on any challenge. I also value The Missouri Bar’s commitment to the public, in promoting civics education, equal access to justice, and confidence in the legal profession.     

Legal Services of Southern Missouri is a nonprofit that provides case representation and advice on civil matters to low-income residents in 43 counties across southern Missouri. Its Board of Directors – which includes lawyers and non-lawyers – helps ensure Legal Services of Southern Missouri is fulfilling its mission of helping clients. 

Ballard earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 2008. 

Ballard said he was interested in the Legal Services of Southern Missouri Board of Directors to do his part in helping to ensure that everyone has access to legal services, especially those most in need. 

“I am looking forward to seeing all of the great things that LSSM does for the communities served,” Ballard said. “More importantly, I am looking forward to seeing the results of our hard work and the success of our clients.” 

Ballard’s term on the board will end Aug. 31, 2026. 

At its May 19, 2023, meeting, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors appointed the following Missouri lawyers as ABA House of Delegates: 

Sheena Hamilton, St. Louis, reappointed as a delegate-at-large to the ABA House of Delegates, for a term beginning at the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting in 2023 and ending at the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting in 2025. 

Portia J. Britt, Florissant, as a young lawyer delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, for a term beginning at the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting in 2023 and ending at the conclusion of the ABA Annual Meeting in 2025. 

At its July 14, 2023 meeting, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors appointed John W. Grimm, Cape Girardeau, as a past president delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, for a term of two years expiring at the conclusion of the 2025 ABA Annual Meeting. Grimm replaces past president of The Missouri Bar Dana Tippin Cutler, Kansas City, whose term expires at the conclusion of the 2023 ABA Annual Meeting held in early August. 

To learn more about the House of Delegates here. 

The Supreme Court of Missouri formed the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession in conjunction with The Missouri Bar with the purpose of assessing the status of women in the profession, identifying barriers to their advancement, combating bias in the justice system and in the legal profession, and securing full and equal participation of women in the legal profession. Slater said she was interested in the commission because of its storied history of affecting tangible changes for women in the legal profession in Missouri. 

“I have spent my career attempting to improve our profession through mentoring and creating dialogue around the unique challenges women face,” Slater said. “When I became aware of the opportunity to serve on the Joint Commission, I knew it was the right next step to continue to pursue that goal. I am excited to get to work.” 

Slater is a personal injury lawyer at The Simon Law firm. She is an alum of Saint Louis University School of Law and holds two bachelor's degrees from Marquette University. Slater was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2011.  

To read more about the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession, click here. 

The Missouri Bar Board of Governors appointed Julia Chaney-Faughn, Randy Hoerschgen, and Mary Houston to the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee at its meeting on May 19, 2023.  

The Board of Governors established the seven-person Fee Dispute Resolution Committee in 1989 to oversee the Fee Dispute Resolution Program. The program provides a voluntary, non-judicial platform for resolving fee disputes between clients and lawyers using facilitation, mediation, and arbitration. The committee consists of four Missouri Bar members and three Missouri residents who are not licensed lawyers.  

Chaney-Faughn is a partner in Cruse Chaney-Faughn P.C. and is admitted to The Missouri Bar, the Illinois Bar, and the U.S. District Courts of Missouri. She is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Counsel, Regional Interagency Coordinating Councils (RICCs) member with Missouri First Steps, The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, and a graduate of the Partners in Policymaking Class. She volunteers with advocacy groups for disabled children and survivors of domestic violence. 

"I serve to promote effective and equal access to legal services for all," Chaney-Faughn said of her appointment.  

Hoerschgen has been a mediator for 22 years. He describes mediation as a “unique opportunity” for parties to resolve their dispute with the assistance of an experienced mediator, while building a resolution that meets each party’s individual interest. Hoerschgen first used mediation while serving as a school social worker and became fascinated with mediation and alternative dispute resolution, ultimately opening his firm DecisionOne. Hoerschgen has served on the state board of the Association of Missouri Mediators and was nominated to serve as the first executive director of the association.  

“I am honored and excited to serve on the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee for The Missouri Bar,” Hoerschgen said. “For the past several years I have been on the panel of mediators for this program, and I am looking forward to using that knowledge and experience to the committee that oversees the program.” 

Houston started HIMAS, a company that provides insurance claims consulting, mediation, and arbitration services in Missouri, Illinois, and other states. She currently provides Equal Employment Opportunity workplace mediation services for governmental agencies in Missouri and Southern Illinois. Houston previously mediated for the 22nd Circuit Court in the City of St. Louis in addition to serving as an insurance litigator for more than 35 years. She was also a volunteer mediator, facilitator, and board member for the Natural Bridge Community Mediation Center. Houston has received several certifications including Civil Mediation from the School of Mediation Services in Dallas, Texas. 

“It is an honor to continue to serve in an area that I am passionate about,” Houston said. “I have witnessed the benefits of mediation and look forward to working with the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee.” 

Chaney- Faughn and Hoerschgen began their four-year terms on June 1. Houston’s term began immediately upon appointment to fill an unexpired term which ends May 31, 2026. 

Click here to learn how to apply for Missouri Bar appointment vacancies.  

Established in 1936, the House of Delegates is the policy-making body of the American Bar Association and provides a connection between the American Bar Association and the several state and local bar associations. It exists to help ascertain the informed national opinion of the legal profession for the development of recommended standards and the orderly development of federal law and the state laws on subjects of nationwide aspect.

“The ABA House of Delegates is a very prestigious organization, and being asked to serve is quite an honor,” Harmon said. “The things I enjoy most about serving […] are being able to effect change in policy; travel; meeting other attorneys and judges from around the country; learning new law and trends in the numerous CLEs; and networking.”

Harmon practices municipal government, school, and employment law in St. Louis.

Learn more about the House of Delegates here. 

The nine-member Intervention Committee was established in 1985, pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 16.03, to encourage the identification of substance use in the legal profession and address substance use or other challenges lawyers and judges may struggle with. The Board of Governors appoints five members to the committee while the Executive Council of the Judicial Conference appoints four. 

Crawford practices at Crawford Intellectual Property Law in St. Louis. 

“Assisting attorneys, law students, and judges in recovering from alcohol and drug dependence is extremely rewarding,” said Crawford. “The Intervention Committee directly helps attorneys restore their lives and practices, resulting in untold indirect benefits to their children, spouses, business partners, and clients. To me, no other service work could be as gratifying.”

Formed in 1972, the Missouri Press-Bar Commission is comprised of nearly 30 media professionals, lawyers, and judges who seek to improve communication and understanding between the media, the courts, and The Missouri Bar. The commission creates projects and programs to better educate the public and encourage cooperation between the press and legal professionals to strengthen service to the First and Sixth Amendments. 

Levings has served on the commission since 2014 and is a past president of The Missouri Bar. She currently practices with Badger & Levings, LC. In addition to a juris doctorate, Levings holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri. 

Members of the press can also utilize the free media resources, including a recently revised Media Law Handbook, legal glossary, and News Reporter’s Handbook. These materials are created by the Missouri Press-Bar Commission and are available through The Missouri Bar. 

The six-member committee administers the Client Security Fund, which the Board of Governors established in 1966 as a resource to clients harmed by the less than 1% of lawyers who either fail to adhere to the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct, die, or are adjudicated mentally incapacitated before concluding their clients’ cases. 

Voss is a shareholder at Zick, Voss, Polittle, Richardson & Brinker, P.C. in Washington. He also serves as city attorney for St. Clair. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Voss was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1989. His term ends Dec. 31, 2027.

Voss said he wanted to join the committee “as a means of doing my part in public service for The Missouri Bar.”

“My first mentor as a law student was Dale Doerhoff, who was very active in The Missouri Bar,” Voss added. “His tutelage confirmed that as members of this great profession, we owe a duty to help others who may have been letdown by the profession.”

Of the 103 claims received in 2022, the Client Security Fund funded 76 – totaling over $300,000 in reimbursements of legal costs – helping even better improve the legal profession and administration of justice. Read more about the Client Security Fund here.

All members of The Missouri Bar are encouraged to get involved. Click here to view board and commission appointment vacancies. Lawyers can also join one or more of the 40-plus open enrollment committees and sections that each focus on a substantive area of law, practice setting, or community. To join a committee or section, click here.

Legal Services of Southern Missouri is a nonprofit that provides case representation and advice on civil matters to low-income residents in 43 counties across southern Missouri. Its Board of Directors – which includes lawyers and non-lawyers – helps ensure Legal Services of Southern Missouri is fulfilling its mission of helping clients.

Fuhrman is first assistant prosecuting attorney of the major crimes unit for the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Office. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Fuhrman was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2009.

“Access to the courts is a fundamental right which is necessary to safeguard rights of citizens,” Fuhrman said. “I believe the function of Legal Services of Southern Missouri to be of the utmost importance to assist individuals who cannot afford legal services to have access to the court system.”

Hutson is the owner of The Hutson Law Firm, LLC in Lebanon. She also served as associate circuit court judge for Laclede County. A graduate of Washburn University School of Law, Hutson was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1992.

Hutson was first appointed to the LSSM Board of Directors in 2015.

Stenger is the president and CEO of Springfield Land, L.P., focusing on the development of residential communities in Springfield and Greene County. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Stenger was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993.

Stenger was first appointed to the LSSM Board of Directors in 2018.

“Access to justice is a pivotal component in so many other things that impact under resourced individuals and families,” Stenger said in her statement of interest.

Their terms will end August 2028.

All members of The Missouri Bar are encouraged to join committee and section activities. Lawyers can choose from more than 40 open enrollment committees and sections that each specialize in a substantive area of law, practice setting, or community. To join a committee or section, visit MoBar.org/Committees-Sections.

The Supreme Court of Missouri, in conjunction with The Missouri Bar, created the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession to identify barriers women face and create resources to combat bias in the judicial system and legal profession.

Lambert has held numerous roles with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and currently serves as that organization’s legal counsel. A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, Lambert joined The Missouri Bar over 15 yeras ago.

Lambert said she is “honored” to be reappointed to the commission.

“Women often face disproportionate obstacles in the legal profession, and I am eager to carry on the important work of the joint commission in eliminating those barriers,” Lambert said. “The women and men of the joint commission strive to equalize opportunity for women, which improves not only our profession and but also our system of justice for the public.”

The Missouri Bar encourages all its members to join committee and section activities. Lawyers can choose from more than 40 open enrollment committees and sections that each specialize in a substantive area of law, practice setting, or community. To join a committee or section, visit MoBar.org/Committees-Sections. 

The 23-member Missouri Court Automation Committee was established in 1994 by state statute to develop, implement, operate, and maintain a statewide court automation system. The committee also administers the Statewide Court Automation Fund. 

Lebeck is senior assistant prosecuting attorney for the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. He works in the major crimes unit, handling violent crimes, weapons offenses, and homicides.

Lebeck said he is “humbled” that The Missouri Bar Board of Governors voted to reappoint him as one of the two Missouri Bar representatives on the state Court Automation Committee. 

“I look forward to our work in continuing to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the courts not just for members of the judiciary and court staff but for all interested parties,” he said. “Missouri should be proud as we have one of the best unified court systems in the United States.”

Lebeck’s new term ends Dec. 31, 2024. 

Click here to learn more about appointment vacancies and how to apply. 

The Supreme Court of Missouri, in conjunction with The Missouri Bar, created the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession to identify barriers women face and create resources to combat bias in the judicial system and legal profession. To learn more about the commission and the resources it offers, click here. 

Moss is an assistant United States attorney in the civil division for the Western District of Missouri and currently serves on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors. A graduate of the College of William & Mary in in Williamsburg, Virginia, she was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2012. Moss says she has enjoyed working on CLE programs that highlight prominent issues impacting women in the profession and reaching a broader audience.

“What I am looking forward to most about the opportunity to continue serving the JCWP is working alongside highly motivated women who are passionate about doing work and creating programming that strives to be a catalyst for change for women in our profession,” Moss said.

Parsons has been practicing law for 30 years and is a lawyer and shareholder with Shaffer Lombardo Shurin in Kansas City. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Parsons was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993.

“I look forward to continuing my service on this committee advocating for women attorneys,” she said.

Bratcher founded Bratcher Gockel Law, L.C. and has been practicing law for nearly 30 years. She was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1983.

Trachtenberg founded TGH Litigation in Columbia and graduated from New York University School of Law in New York City. She was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2010.

The terms for Bratcher, Moss, Parsons, and Trachtenberg will end Sept. 30, 2025.

The Missouri Bar encourages all its members to join committee and section activities. Lawyers can choose from more than 40 open enrollment committees and sections that each specialize in a substantive area of law, practice setting, or community. To join a committee or section, visit MoBar.org/Committees-Sections. 

The Board of Trustees was established in 1960 and acts for and in the name of The Missouri Bar, the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, and the Missouri Board of Law Examiners regarding ownership, management, and control of each entity’s headquarters. 

Starke served as 2012-13 Missouri Bar president and founded Starke Law Offices. A University of Missouri graduate, Starke was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1979.

The Missouri Bar encourages all its members to join committee and section activities. Lawyers can choose from more than 40 open enrollment committees and sections that each specialize in a substantive area of law, practice setting, or community. To join a committee or section, visit MoBar.org/Committees-Sections. 

The House of Delegates serves as the policy-making body of the American Bar Association and is composed of legal professionals from local and state bars from around the country.

Colbert-Botchway is an associate circuit judge with the 22nd Circuit Court in St. Louis. She was on the bar’s Board of Governors from 2012-2016 and has served in several roles for the ABA. She is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law and University of Missouri-St. Louis, and she joined The Missouri Bar in 1997.

“I will continue to provide valued service and be responsive to the diverse needs of our membership while supporting the ABA's mission to equally serve our members, our profession, and the public as the national representative of the legal profession.”

A graduate from the University of Missouri School of Law, Cole is a lawyer with Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C. and was 2017-2018 Missouri Bar president. He joined The Missouri Bar in 1997.

“It is important that Missouri have a voice in the policies that affect the legal landscape of our country, such as those considered by the ABA House of Delegates,” Cole said. “It is also important that Missouri be represented and heard regarding the evolving practice of law.  It is with pleasure I accept another term as a delegate to ensure Missouri continues to be heard and represented through input and voting.”  

All members of The Missouri Bar are encouraged to join committee and section activities. Lawyers can choose from more than 40 open enrollment committees and sections that each specialize in a substantive area of law, practice setting, or community. To join a committee or section, visit MoBar.org/Committees-Sections.

The independent, 21-member Judicial Performance Review Committee evaluates the performances of appellate and trial judges appointed under the constitutional nonpartisan selection process, also known as The Missouri Plan, using judicial performance review standards. The committee was established pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rules 10.50 through 10.55. It contains nine members of The Missouri Bar, nine Missouri residents who are not bar members, and one retired judge from each district of the Missouri Court of Appeals. The Missouri Bar Board of Governors appoints both the lawyer and non-lawyer members. The Supreme Court of Missouri appoints the three seats held by retired judges. 

Battle is a senior industrial engineer at Honeywell FM&T in Kansas City and a graduate from North Carolina State University. Battle’s term will begin July 1.

“I am honored to be appointed to the Judicial Performance Review Committee and to represent the people of Missouri,” Battle said. “I will work diligently to ensure that our judges are upholding the principles on which our judicial system is built.”  

Katharyn Davis is a lawyer at Davis & Travaglini, LLC, and has served on several committees, including as chair of the Practice and Procedure Division. She is a graduate of Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1985.

Davis said serving on the Judicial Performance Review Committee is a “great honor.”

“I look forward to working with lawyers and members of the community from across Missouri to provide this important service,” Davis said. “The Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan is a sound way to pick judges, and the Judicial Performance Review Committee is just one way to support that plan.”

Devlin works as associate general counsel for the Missouri State Board of Nursing and is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law. She joined The Missouri Bar in 2009 and has served on multiple bar committees and graduated from Leadership Academy. Devlin’s term on the committee will start July 1.

“With practice experience in nearly half of Missouri's judicial circuits, I am a firm believer in the ability of our Non-Partisan Court Plan to seat better judges and create more equal justice,” Devlin said. “I am honored to fulfill this role helping Missourians make more informed decisions by providing them insight on the performance of their judges.”

A graduate of Walden University, Peoples has held several managerial roles and is currently the city manager of Webster Groves. Her term on the Judicial Performance Review Committee will begin July 1.

“The Judicial Performance Review Committee is a critical component of the justice system,” Peoples said. “Few things are as tantamount as ensuring that all Missourians receive fair and impartial administration of justice. My career began with Missouri’s justice system, and I am honored to contribute to such an important committee." 

A graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law, Thompson is the legal/regulatory counsel for City Utilities of Springfield and joined The Missouri Bar in 2012.

“I am honored to continue serving on the Judicial Performance Review Committee,” Thompson said. “The committee plays an important role in evaluating feedback from the community, as well as judges, to facilitate a fair review process that voters can rely on. We continuously strive to improve this process and I look forward to supporting those efforts in my next term.”

Battle, Devlin, Davis, Peoples, and Thompson will end their terms May 31, 2028.

All members of The Missouri Bar are encouraged to join committee and section activities. Lawyers can choose from more than 40 open enrollment committees and sections that each specialize in a substantive area of law, practice setting, or community. To join a committee or section, visit MoBar.org/Committees-Sections.

The Missouri Bar Board of Governors reappointed John DeMoor, of St. Louis, to serve on the Missouri Press-Bar Commission during its May 13, 2022, meeting. 

Formed in 1972, the Missouri Press-Bar Commission is comprised of nearly 30 media professionals, lawyers, and judges who seek to improve communication and understanding between the media, the courts, and The Missouri Bar. The commission creates projects and programs to better educate the public and encourage cooperation between the press and legal professionals to strengthen service to the First and Sixth Amendments. 

DeMoor has practiced law for 19 years and currently owns The DeMoor Law Firm, where he focuses on workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law, and more. Prior to joining The Missouri Bar in 2003, he was a journalist at Missouri Lawyers Weekly. DeMoor’s second term will end May 31, 2026. 

“In an era where the internet has transformed the media with podcasts, blogs, live streaming, Twitter and other social media pressures demanding answers, the need for the commission is more imperative than ever,” DeMoor said. “My hope is that the commission remains a forum helping to keep our legal system and profession transparent and accessible to the media and public-at-large.” 

The Missouri Press-Bar Commission is currently seeking diversity representatives who reflect a wide range of media communities in terms of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, geography, audience size, and/or platform. Click here to apply for the vacancy. 

Members of the press can also utilize the free media resources, including a recently revised Media Law Handbook, legal glossary, and News Reporter’s Handbook. These materials are created by the Missouri Press-Bar Commission and are available through The Missouri Bar. 

Established pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rules 10.50 through 10.55, the Judicial Performance Review Committee evaluates, using judicial performance review standards, the performances of appellate and trial judges appointed under the constitutional nonpartisan selection process known as the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, also known as the Missouri Plan.  

The committee is comprised of 21 members – one member of The Missouri Bar and one member of the public from each circuit where judges are initially selected through the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan , as well as one member of The Missouri Bar, one member of the public, and one retired judge from each Missouri Court of Appeals district. Each member serves a six-year term, with a limit of two terms.  

Those interested can apply by completing the online application form, providing a statement of interest, and submitting biographical information (CV or resume) by 5 p.m., June 8, 2022.  

Click here to learn more about appointments, as well as other vacancies on Missouri Bar boards and commissions.

The Supreme Court of Missouri appointed Dolan to the commission to replace Hon. Robin Ransom, effective Aug. 31, 2021. Dolan serves as a judge for the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District. 

“I was very honored when Judge (Mary) Russell called me to tell me of my appointment to the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession, and I look forward to working with its members who have already done so much to secure the equal participation of women in our profession,” Dolan said.  

The Missouri Bar Board of Governors appointed Lambert to succeed Sylvia Edgar, with a term ending on Sept. 30, 2022. Lambert currently serves as the legal counsel for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and has spoken at several continuing legal education seminars regarding discrimination issues. 

Lambert referenced her older sister’s law class – containing about a quarter of women – and her own class seven years later which was at 42%; now it’s not unheard of to see law classes with a majority of women. However, when companies poll lawyers after law school, she added, there is no longer that level of representation of women in the profession. Lambert said she is eager to work with the commission to eliminate barriers that women in the profession encounter. 

“The commission’s work to identify and address bias and other barriers that women in the profession face is crucial not only to the women but also the entire profession and the public our justice system is intended to serve,” Lambert said. 

The Joint Commission on Women in the Profession was created in 2013 by the Supreme Court of Missouri, in conjunction with The Missouri Bar, to identify barriers women face and create resources to combat bias in the justice system and legal profession. To learn more about the commission and the resources it offers, click here. 

The Missouri Bar Board of Governors appointed six lawyers in March to serve on the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession. Lynne Bratcher, Mollie G. Mohan, Christa B. Moss, Thomas K. Neill, Dawn M. Parsons, and Kristen Paulsmeyer will serve on the commission, which is charged with assessing the status of women in the profession, identifying barriers to their advancement, combating bias in the justice system and in the legal profession, and with securing full and equal participation of women in the legal profession.   

Lynne Bratcher, a lawyer with Bratcher Gockel Law LC in Independence, has been practicing for 37 years. She says that when she began there were few female trial lawyers, especially in the plaintiffs’ bar. Bratcher says she has always been interested in making the profession of law more inviting to women.  

“I had to figure out how to raise two kids, maintain my marriage to a non-lawyer, while keeping up with male colleagues trying cases who had fewer domestic responsibilities,” Bratcher said. “I want to make it easier for the public to have the great benefit of women working in the profession.” 

Bratcher notes that she is most excited about the commission inspiring women, not only to aspire to judgeships and partnerships, but also to creating their own law firms.  

“Entrepreneurship fosters creativity and can change aspects of the practice of law for the better.”  

Mollie Mohan believes that we all benefit when we increase our perspectives beyond our own personal experience. Mohan is a shareholder in the St. Louis firm Tueth Keeney, where she also serves as chair of its diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. While Mohan says she is fortunate to be a shareholder in a majority-women-owned law firm, she recognizes that not all women have the same experience.  

“[…] women only make up 24% of partnership at law firms – but women are graduating law school at a rate of 52%,” Mohan said. “There is clearly a disconnect that exists between the number of women attorneys and the opportunities women attorneys receive for advancement.”  

Mohan notes she is excited to learn more about the barriers women face and craft creative solutions to help promote the development and advancement of women lawyers.  

Christa Moss has also joined the commission. Moss, a member of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors representing the Southern District, lives in Springfield, where she serves as a civil assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Moss is an alumna of The Missouri Bar Leadership program and is actively involved in regional bars and organizations.  

Thomas K. Neill, who practices with Gray, Ritter & Graham P.C. in St. Louis, has served on the commission since its 2013 founding. Neill notes every lawyer has an interest in ensuring that all lawyers are treated equally, and he says he enjoys that the commission is task-oriented. 

“The commission is charged with addressing weighty issues, including combating bias and securing equal participation for women in our profession,” Neill said. “The members of the commission don’t simply debate those issues, but instead tackle them, often with considerable success.”  

Dawn Parsons, shareholder in Shaffer Lombardo Shurin PC in Kansas City, has also witnessed the various barriers women in the profession face. She says she hopes that, during her time on the commission, she can contribute to developing actionable steps to recruit, retain, and promote women in the profession.  

“Women have been graduating at the same rate or in greater rates than men for more than 25 years, but women are woefully underrepresented as first chair trial attorneys, equity partners, and in law firm management,” Parsons said. “I have personally seen extremely talented women attorneys leave the profession at significantly higher rates than their male colleagues. I want to remove the structural and institutional barriers that seem to push women out of the profession.”  

Kristen Paulsmeyer, chief counsel to the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, says she is most excited to collaborate with other members of the commission and advance the legal profession.  

“This past year highlighted how many working parents struggled to work remotely and simultaneously facilitate remote learning for children. As new challenges arise, it’s critical for the commission to stay informed of emerging issues and their impact on the legal profession,” Paulsmeyer said. “My goals for the commission include continuing to serve as a forum to consider the unique challenges still faced by Missouri women in the legal profession and striving to address those challenges through systemic change and education of fellow Missouri Bar members and the public at large.” 

Click here to learn more about the work of the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession. 

The Missouri Bar has appointed two new members to vacancies on the independent Judicial Performance Review Committee. Duane Soper of Platte City and Dr. Alan Holiman of Kansas City have been approved by The Missouri Bar Board of Governors to serve on the committee. 

The JPR Committee assesses the performance of judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri, the court of appeals and each judicial circuit whose judges are selected through the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan, pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 10.50. 

Missouri uses a constitutional merit system known as the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan to select its appellate judges and trial-level judges in the City of St. Louis and Clay, Greene, Jackson, Platte and St. Louis counties. In other parts of the state, trial-level judges seek election in partisan races. The Judicial Performance Review Committee evaluates the work of each nonpartisan judge based on review standards. The Missouri Bar then disseminates the committee's findings prior to judicial retention elections. 

Donald “Duane” Soper has resided in Platte County for 50 years. Although he started as an entrepreneur with his own company, Soper has spent many years in public service as a commissioner in Platte County and currently serves as the vice president of Wells Bank in charge of their construction lending portfolio.   

Soper will be taking over the unexpired term for the 6th Judicial Circuit non-lawyer member, expiring in 2026. 

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the Judicial Performance Review Committee,” Soper said. “I believe this to be an important piece of the process in our judicial system.” 

Dr. Alan Holiman has previously served on a regional judicial performance review committee before it was replaced with a statewide committee in 2016. As a professor of political science at William Jewell College he has a clear understanding of the significance of Missouri’s judicial performance review process and supports it. 

Holiman will be serving as the 7th Judicial Circuit non-lawyer member, with a term expiring in 2024. 

“It is essential that citizens of the State of Missouri have complete confidence that the judges serving in their courts are fair, reasonable, competent professionals, dedicated to the impartial administration of justice,” said Holiman. “Being a judge is hard work, on which the rule of law ultimately rests. Missouri’s Judicial Performance Review Committee system is important to uphold judicial accountability and to strengthen public confidence in the judiciary. I am honored to serve my fellow citizens in this capacity.” 

For more information on the Judicial Performance Review Committee’s work, visit YourMissouriJudges.org. 

Earlier this year, the Appointments Committee of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors sought applications for a vacancy on the Intervention Committee.

Susi is a principal at Curtis, Heinz, Garrett & O’Keefe, P.C. She received her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Missouri -St. Louis and her JD from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia. She hopes her professional and personal experiences will allow her to assist others with coming to terms with their addiction, to seek help, to connect them with resources to enable them to become sober, find their commitment to sobriety, and to their own well-being. 

How do you think the committee benefits the profession?  

The committee is a beacon of hope and sanctuary to legal professionals in crisis. 

How can lawyers get involved in the committee?  

Lawyers can get involved by sharing the mission of this committee with their firms, colleagues and legal organizations in which they are members, so that the reach of this committee is expanded to provide hope to others that are struggling with addiction and their mental health.  

Additional thoughts?  

Addiction is private. It is secret. As attorneys, we fear that letting go and coming to terms with addiction is shameful and WILL be used against us by others in our field. Dropping this fear is critical to being free of addiction. Shame and fear hold us back from being who we are truly meant to be. I was meant to help others through this committee and that is what I intend to do.  

Tell us something interesting or fun about yourself:  

I am a certified yoga instructor trained in the Baptiste methodology and host a weekly yoga class at my church and on FaceBook. I enjoy hiking, biking, climbing trees, practicing yoga, teaching yoga, reading, spending time with my family that is big and blended (7 children total). The most rewarding aspect of my life is helping others find the joy that I have found in sobriety. 

To learn more about the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Committee or to ask for help, click here or call (800) 688-7859.

Bender-Levy works for the Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. in Creve Coeur. She graduated from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, with undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Women's Studies, and earned her JD from Saint Louis University School of Law. 

What are you hoping to achieve with your work on this commission? 

I hope that as a commission we can continue with the advancement of women within the legal profession and meet the needs of these women, no matter the practice area, group or size. I hope that we can at all times be relevant to the needs of the women in our communities and act on those needs. 

How will your experience/interest advance the commission’s goals?  

I have had the benefit of working at a large law firm, a nonprofit and currently at a small firm so I can relate to women in many different environments and situations. Additionally, I had the pleasure of serving as chair of Girls on the Run St. Louis a few years ago and currently chair Women's Philanthropy of Jewish Federation which have provided me with the tools to lead different types of committees and boards and work on a variety of topics to promote women and girls in the most positive light, in the healthiest ways and with confidence to do great things. 

How do you think the commission benefits the profession?  

The commission is the mouthpiece for the greater community of women within the profession. The commission seeks out the needs which are relevant and addresses those needs or addresses the needs as they are brought to the commission by members of the profession. The commission is also a reminder to the profession of the ongoing work needed for success of all of its members. 

How can lawyers get involved in the committee? 

I think that if a lawyer is interested in being involved, there should be a means for that involvement, whether in sub-committee or task force work, or being an advocate for the work done by the commission or related open enrollment Missouri Bar Women in the Profession Committee. 

Tell us something interesting or fun about yourself:  

I am a wife and mother of three, I am a wanna-be triathlete, a super-slow marathon runner, a vegan, a lover of the beach and warm weather, a huge wimp when it comes to cold weather, I am scared of heights, and I get sick looking at anything that goes in a circle including a merry-go-round! 

Do you have any final thoughts? 

I am honored at this opportunity and hope that as a commission we can all be transparent, collaborative and realistic yet eagerly optimistic of what can be accomplished together. 

The Joint Commission on Women in the Profession was formed in 2013 by order of the Supreme Court of Missouri and in conjunction with The Missouri Bar. The commission is charged with assessing the status of women in the profession, identifying barriers to their advancement, combating bias in the justice system and in the legal profession, and with securing full and equal participation of women in the legal profession. Stephanie Wan of Springfield was recently selected to co-chair the commission.

Wan is Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Greene County. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt University and her JD at the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia. 

What are you hoping to achieve with your work on this commission and related committee? 

As we watched the first woman (and a woman lawyer) to be elected Vice President of the United States, it seems like a great time to reinvigorate the Committee on Women in the Profession. My biggest goals are that the committee will provide education and CLEs pertaining to gender issues in the legal committee, address the pressing issues that are facing the women of The Missouri Bar, press employers and allies to work towards better equity among genders, make the forum a place where women can connect and discuss and collect critical information to help us achieve those goals.  

I also want to elevate the voices of women lawyers so we can hear about their experiences and how they have overcome the many obstacles that exist in becoming a successful woman lawyer. Karen Glickstein and Megan Phillips, the former co-chairs of the Joint Commission have spearheaded so many great projects and I am hoping that we can build on their great legacies.  

How will your experience advance the committee’s goals? 

I have served in the Joint Commission since 2014 and run the Twitter account (@MoWomenLaywers – follow us!). I am very passionate about the issues facing women in the professional world. I don’t believe there is a single woman who hasn’t faced a slew of microaggressions or barriers in the legal field.  

There are experiences that are common to all of us – from being mistaken for the court reporter to trying to figure out how to balance work and home. I am a minority woman and have faced many of those same issues and more. However, in the last seven years, I have also been a supervisor in my office and have learned firsthand (and made some mistakes along the way) how to even the playing field for women and how to mentor and sponsor women. Being able to understand and being able to learn and listen about the issues facing women in our field is one of the best ways I will help advance the open committee and the Commission.  

How do you think the commission and committee benefit the profession? 

There are some very obvious, tangible ways that the committee and commission has benefitted the profession. These are some of our concrete accomplishments since we have been formed: 

We successfully advocated for revisions to Supreme Court Rule 6.06 governing the return to active status. We took this position because we recognized that there were quite a few women that went inactive because they chose to stay-at-home or needed to care for family members full-time or for other reasons. We found the requirements to go back to active status was a barrier to those women reentering the profession. Through our research and advocacy, we were able to get a change to that rule so that those who go inactive can more easily return to practice.  

We have hosted and participated in several symposiums and training events addressing issues like implicit bias and successful networking/mentorship for women in the profession.  

We successfully advocated for lactation accommodation in state courthouses.  

We also accomplished a revision to the annual attorney enrollment form to include a checkbox for gender, which will facilitate analysis of women's representation in Missouri legal sectors going forward. 

Moving forward, I want this committee to provide a network of women across the state who are ready, willing, and able to identify the pressing gender issues in our field. This committee can help to keep the pressure on the establishment, our allies, and ourselves to continue to commit to changes that will achieve gender parity in our profession.  

How can lawyers get involved? 

There are two easy ways to get involved! Join the open enrollment committee or apply to the Supreme Court Joint Commission on Women in the Profession. At our next meeting at the Fall Committee Meetings, I will be discussing some projects I hope to get off the ground and asking for volunteers to assist with some of those projects. I will also have a brainstorming session so we can discuss other ideas for projects and how we can better serve the women of The Missouri Bar.  

Tell us something interesting or fun about yourself… 

I have two awesome dogs – Oliver and Skye. They are also are strong believers in advancing women in the profession.   

Do you have any final thoughts? 

We are really hoping to have a very diverse group of attorneys on the Commission and the committee – including attorneys from different fields, different levels of experience (it’s important to know what issues are affecting those women entering the profession and those issues affecting women who are more established in their careers), and anyone else interested in this issue. Men, especially allies, are also encouraged and welcome to join.