The Missouri Bar Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit partner to The Missouri Bar that seeks to advance the administration of justice, elevate the legal profession, foster public appreciation of the rule of law, and further our constitutional form of government through law-related community projects, scholarships, jurisprudential research, and recognition of exemplary legal and public service. 

Show Me the Constitution competition 

The Missouri Bar will receive a grant for the 2027 Show Me the Constitution competition. The bar’s Citizenship Education Department organizes the competition, which mirrors the congressional committee hearing process used by U.S. Congress and the Missouri General Assembly. The competition features three questions that explore significant constitutional issues, challenging students to think critically and creatively about some of the most pressing civic questions facing the nation today.  

Participants have the unique opportunity to argue these topics in front of prominent members of the legal and education communities, frequently including judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri. 

2026 Anti-Human Trafficking Conference scholarships 

The Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition will receive a grant to fund scholarships for prosecutors, prosecutorial office staff, law enforcement personnel, and other frontline professionals to attend the 2026 Anti-Human Trafficking Conference.  

The grant helps overcome budgetary limitations that prevent frontline personnel from accessing crucial training to help combat human trafficking. This high-quality education will help frontline workers even better serve survivors of human trafficking. 

Justice in Action initiative 

The Investigation & Advocacy Service Project will receive a grant for its Justice in Action initiative which seeks to strengthen public understanding of the justice system and constitutional governance through education and engagement. 

Grant funding will help expand IAS's reach in using real post-conviction cases to educate students and the public about the justice system and demonstrate the importance of constitutional protections.  

“Kids in Missouri Courts” coloring and activity book 

The Supreme Court of Missouri Civic Education Committee will receive a grant to fund the initial printing of the committee’s “Kids in Missouri Courts” coloring and activity book.  The “Kids in Missouri Courts” coloring and activity book will serve as an engaging and accessible tool to help elementary age students better understand the role of courts, judges, juries, and the rule of law in Missouri. 

For more information about grant opportunities through the Missouri Bar Foundation, click here. 

Named after 1968-69 Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown a high standard of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. Each year, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees select one to two deserving recipients. The award includes a $500 stipend.  

Read about the 2025 awardees, John W. Grimm and Anne Sallee Mason.   

Nominate a deserving lawyer here. 

The Spurgeon Smithson Awards were established in 1976 by bequest of the late Smithson, a Kansas City lawyer. The Missouri Bar Foundation presents the awards annually to Missouri judges, law teachers, and/or lawyers deemed to have rendered outstanding service toward the increase and diffusion of justice. The recognition includes a $2,000 stipend.  

Read about the 2025 awardees, Mary Fox, Barbara Glesner Fines, and Hon. Sherri B. Sullivan.  

Nominate a deserving lawyer here. 

Both awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in September. 

Click here to learn about the other awards The Missouri Bar Foundation offers.  

The David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award was created by the Missouri Bar Foundation to recognize outstanding achievement in appellate practice by young Missouri lawyers. The award identifies and acknowledges lawyers who have displayed exceptional advocacy skills in court.   

One lawyer from each district of the Missouri Court of Appeals will receive the award, which comes with a $750 stipend. Nominees must be younger than 40 years old as of Sept. 30, 2026, to be eligible.   

Nominate a deserving lawyer here.  

The Lon O. Hocker Award is given to three young Missouri lawyers who exemplify the qualities of a trial lawyer, including professionalism and high ethical conduct. The awards, established in 1954, are presented at The Missouri Bar’s Annual Meeting, and the recipients receive a $750 stipend.   

Three lawyers selected from St. Louis, Kansas City, and all other counties in the state will receive this honor. Nominees must be younger than 40 years old as of Sept. 30, 2026, to be eligible.   

Nominate a deserving lawyer here.  

Each nominee for the awards will receive an application form to be completed and returned to the Missouri Bar Foundation by March 15. A selection committee will then review the applications and recommend nominees for consideration by the trustees of the Missouri Bar Foundation, who make the final decision.   

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about past award winners here. 

The foundation does this through law-related community projects, scholarships, jurisprudential research, and recognition of exemplary legal and public service.  

Meet some of the latest additions to the Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. 

Quinn Benson 

Benson is a lawyer with The Benson Law Firm, LLC in Kirksville. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and is a graduate of the 2022-2023 Leadership Academy class. He currently represents District 2 on The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Council and is the YLS representative to the foundation Board of Trustees.  

Benson is inspired by the foundation’s goal to address previously unmet legal needs in rural communities.  

“Because of my everyday rural practice, this stuck out to me,” Benson said. “I believe the foundation should have a rural voice while directing its attention at rural issues and projects.” 

Benson also appreciates the awards given by the foundation and how they recognize the work lawyers are doing for their clients and communities. 

“I'm proud that the Missouri Bar Foundation does not let these great-hearted people go unnoticed,” Benson said.  

Debbie Champion 

Champion is a founding partner of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch and Champion in St. Louis, where she focuses on a wide range of practice areas including various types of liability, personal injury, transportation, and more. 

She enjoys working with the foundation because it helps lawyers support their communities and the legal profession. 

“The foundation is important to me because we have a direct opportunity to help provide access to justice and support to those truly in need,” Champion said. 

Douglas A. Copeland 

Copeland is a lawyer at Jeep Law in St. Louis. He earned his J.D. from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was president of The Missouri Bar from 2005-2006.  

The mission of the foundation is extremely important to Copeland, and he encourages other lawyers to get involved in any way they can. 

“If you feel that the mission of the foundation is an important one, and any part of that mission speaks to you, please come join me in supporting the foundation in some fashion,” Copeland said. “You won’t be disappointed.” 

Chris Pieper  

Pieper is a managing member of Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch in Columbia. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law.  

The foundation’s recognition of excellence in the legal profession is important to Pieper, and he encourages lawyers to nominate their peers and members of the community. 

“I believe it is important to recognize exceptional legal and public service to elevate the profession and foster public appreciation for the rule of law,” Pieper said. 

Learn more about the Missouri Bar Foundation and how you can support it here. 

For their exceptional professionalism as Missouri lawyers, John W. Grimm and Anne Sallee Mason will receive this year’s Purcell Professionalism Award. 

Named after former Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown a high standard of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees nominate lawyers, and the board of trustees selects up to two award winners. 

Grimm and Mason will receive their award on Sept. 17 in Branson during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference. 

Grimm 

A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Grimm is a lawyer with the Limbaugh Law Firm in Cape Girardeau. He joined the firm in 1989 before serving as circuit judge for the 32nd Judicial Circuit. He returned to the firm in 2003 after his judicial service. 

Grimm was a member of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors from 2010-2023 and was Missouri Bar president from 2021-2022. He also served on The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Council and the Executive Council of the ABA Young Lawyers’ Division.  

“I've been fortunate to travel and meet lawyers from all corners of the state,” Grimm said. “I've learned that there are a lot of very good lawyers in Missouri — some who are affiliated with the largest firms in the country and others who are sole practitioners ... I’m very proud to be a lawyer in Missouri.” 

He encouraged lawyers to connect with their peers and participate in professional and community activities. 

“Lawyers have a lot to offer outside of the office, and there are countless ways to give back to the profession and to the community,” he said.  

While he enjoys the immediate gratification of winning a case or closing a deal, Grimm finds the greatest satisfaction in hearing from clients and families years later about the lasting impact he made. 

“It might have seemed like a minor thing at the time, but doing a good job and treating people with respect can really have a positive, long-term impact,” he said. 

Mason 

A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Mason is a partner with Neale & Newman in Springfield. She joined the firm in 1989 after clerking for Hon. Douglas W. Green of the Missouri Court of Appeals-Southern District and became the firm’s first female partner in 1993. 

After a stint in banking as a trust officer and in-house counsel, Mason returned to Neale & Newman in 2003, where she continues to practice. 

She served on the boards of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, the Greene County Estate Planning Council, and the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, where she chaired the Probate and Trust Committee. 

Mason expressed gratitude for the award and the support she’s received throughout her career. 

“Growing up in a small town, my parents and my community instilled in me the importance of hard work, integrity, helping others, and community service,” she said. “This award reaffirms these values and the importance of practicing law not only with skill, knowledge, and competency, but also with compassion and humility.” 

Mason believes having a good reputation is important for succeeding in law. She encourages other lawyers to consider their reputations and how their actions affect the way others perceive them.  

“Your reputation precedes you in every encounter, whether before a judge, with another lawyer, or with a client ...” she said. “Be trustworthy, always act with integrity, and never compromise your ethics for any reason, under any circumstances.” 

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2025 award winners here.  

Andrew J. Crane, Christine Lesicko, and Renee Suddy 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.  

Crane, Lesicko, and Suddy will receive their awards Sept. 17 in Branson during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference. 

Crane 

A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Crane is the deputy chief counsel for the Governmental Affairs Section of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.  

Crane enjoys the broader view required in appellate practice and how it can affect the law. 

“To me, appellate courts still represent the opportunity for lawyers to shape the future of the law with their own diligence, intelligence, and written work,” he said. 

When it comes to his practice, Crane values process over outcome. He is most proud of the cases where he has learned and grown as a lawyer. It is important for him to truly understand the case and how it can affect the client and the community. 

“As lawyers, we see the impacts that those laws have on the people of our communities and work to make sure the laws are applied correctly and fairly,” Crane said. “I am honored to be a part of that effort.” 

Lesicko 

Lesicko earned her law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law. She is the co-chair of the appellate practice group and principal at Watters Wolf Bub Hansmann LLC. She previously clerked for Hon. Edward R. Ardini Jr., of the Missouri Court of Appeals-Western District. 

Lesicko enjoys appellate advocacy because she can be creative while working within the confines of specific rules and records. She said she also sees it as an opportunity to ensure that litigants get a “fair shake” in the lower courts.  

“I view my role as an appellate advocate as making sure the system works as fairly as possible for everyone involved in a case,” she said. 

Lesicko encourages other lawyers to work hard and be the best advocates they can for their clients. 

“You never know where your career will take you, but being diligent for your clients and collegial with opposing counsel and other attorneys in your practice area will go a long way to gaining a good reputation and getting opportunities,” she said. 

Suddy 

A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Suddy is an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Appeals Section at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.  

Suddy views her role as an opportunity to help shape people’s experience with the legal system.  

“When parties see us working to reach the right result, in the right way, it builds trust in our system, which is so important,” she said. “Hopefully, people leave feeling heard, feeling like they were treated fairly, and understanding the process a little better.” 

She enjoys being able to work on both sides in her practice area to maintain a well-rounded perspective and fully understand problems so she can help others comprehend them. She encourages other lawyers to keep learning and build trust in their professional judgment. 

“Good judgment comes from information, perspective, and often a little humility ...” she said. “The more you know, the better you will understand the issues in front of you. Challenge yourself early and get outside your comfort zone.” 

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2025 award winners here.  

Kaitlynn M. Donnelly, Bryan Mathews, and John P. Schlesinger will receive this year’s Lon O. Hocker Awards for their commendable work as trial lawyers. 

The Missouri Bar Foundation awards the Lon O. Hocker Award to three trial lawyers under the age of 40 who demonstrate zealousness, honor, strength, courtesy, confidence, and respect. Established in 1954, the award is named after Lon O. Hocker, a lawyer who practiced in St. Louis for more than 50 years and was a well-respected trial lawyer.  

Donnelly, Mathews, and Schlesinger will receive their awards on Sept. 17 in Branson during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference. 

Donnelly 

Donnelly is an assistant prosecuting attorney in Platte County. A graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law, she previously worked with the Missouri State Public Defender System as a public defender.  

Donnelly is passionate about providing a voice to crime victims, especially children. 

“It's a privilege to be trusted to tell a victim's story, and I'm honored to carry that responsibility every time I step into the courtroom,” she said. 

Donnelly said she seeks to be compassionate and effective in her pursuit of justice for victims.  

“My goal is always to restore a sense of safety to victims and their families,” she said. “Knowing that the work I do on a daily basis can bring justice and closure to even one victim is what keeps me committed and driven.” 

Mathews 

Mathews is the family sexual violence prosecutor in Franklin County. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and began his career as a criminal defense lawyer before joining the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 2023. 

He is driven by a desire to help survivors and build relationships with them over the course of their cases. 

“Getting through a trial where you spend anywhere from three to five days with a family and you can look back at them at the conclusion of the trial and know you did everything you could for them, regardless of the outcome, there is a lot of pride in that,” he said. “To see the relief in the parent's eyes that this process is over, and in the fortunate cases where they tell me ‘thank you,’ I think of myself as a parent to two young girls and know I would want someone who takes this as seriously as I do to be the advocate for my own child.” 

For Mathews, this award recognizes the work he and his team do to help survivors find justice. 

“It is a reflection of our team's dedication, and it highlights decisions to spend long hours and sometimes weekends away from our families to make sure we are doing everything we can for our survivor,” he said.  

Schlesinger 

A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, Schlesinger is the deputy chief trial attorney for the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. 

He has spent majority of his legal career as a prosecutor and said he is proud to represent victims. 

“While the work can be challenging, it is a privilege to stand up for victims, seek justice, and help restore a sense of safety to those who have been harmed,” Schlesinger said. 

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2025 award winners here.  

Mary Fox, Barbara Glesner Fines, and Hon. Sherri B. Sullivan will be recognized for their contributions toward increasing the quality of justice. 

Established in 1976, The Missouri Bar Foundation Spurgeon Smithson Awards recognize judges, law teachers, and/or lawyers who have provided outstanding services toward the increase and diffusion of justice. The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees selects the recipients, who each receive a $2,000 stipend.  

The three recipients will receive their awards on Sept. 17 in Branson during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference. 

Fox 

Fox, of Clayton, earned her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and spent her career helping low-income Missourians.  

Fox served as director of the Missouri State Public Defender System from January 2020 until her retirement in June 2025. She previously worked as managing attorney for the St. Louis City Trial Office, hearing officer for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division, and commissioner for the 21st Judicial Circuit.  

Fox said she is most proud of creating the Holistic Defense Services program at MSPD, which supports client advocacy by connecting clients to resources and services to improve both case and life outcomes.   

“HDS advocacy results in less pretrial detention and incarceration — saving taxpayers money — and improved stability for clients, which improves their lives, the lives of their families, and increases community safety,” Fox said. “The continued work of HDS will allow clients to escape from criminal legal system involvement and eventually reduce the number of criminal prosecutions in the state — a positive step for all Missourians.” 

Glesner Fines 

Glesner Fines, of Kansas City, earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin School of Law and her Master of Laws from Yale Law School. She is a professor and dean emerita at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she has been a faculty member since 1986. She was executive associate dean from 2013-2017.  

Glesner Fines has focused on professional ethics and formation. She has taught more than 40 courses, created multiple programs, and co-founded the school’s Academic Support Program, the UMKC Child and Family Law Emphasis, the Solo & Small Firm Lawyering Program, and the UMKC/LAWMO Self Help Clinic. 

She said she is honored to represent the law school faculty who work to advance justice by helping students become lawyers committed to advancing understanding and development of the legal system. 

“If my teaching, research, and service have played even a small part in advancing justice, I am privileged beyond measure,” she said. 

Sullivan 

Sullivan, of St. Louis, earned her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law. She began her judicial career in 1989 as an associate circuit judge. She was appointed circuit judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit in 1994 and joined the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District in 1999. She served as chief judge in 2003-2004 and 2021-2022 before retiring in 2023. 

Sullivan encourages all lawyers to remember the privilege of their role. 

“As we swore in our oath of office, it is our responsibility and duty to maintain the dignity of our profession and to ensure the continuation of the rule of law and the balance of the three equal branches of government,” she said. 

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2025 award winners here.  

Heidi Doerhoff Vollet is president of The Missouri Bar Foundation and partner at Cook Vetter Doerhoff & Landwehr PC in Jefferson City.

A note from Mischa Buford Epps, Missouri Bar executive director: I have the great fortune of witnessing the impact Missouri lawyers make on the world around us. One of the ways you do so is through your contributions to and support of The Missouri Bar Foundation. To help drive home this point, I extended an invitation to Heidi Doerhoff Vollet, current president of The Missouri Bar Foundation, to share about the great work the foundation has done over its 75-year history to assist citizens across our state and recognize the remarkable contributions of Missouri lawyers.

The Missouri Bar Foundation is a statewide, nonpartisan, charitable organization. It was created on May 11, 1950, by pillars of Missouri’s legal community:
– Charles M. Blackmar, a prominent Kansas City lawyer and an initiator of Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan (whose son, Hon. Charles B. Blackmar, served with distinction on the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1982-1992), led the charge as its first president.
– Allen L. Oliver, a Cape Girardeau lawyer and past president of The Missouri Bar, served as its first vice president. 
– Irene L. Dulin, a St. Louis lawyer and graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law, served as its first secretary.
– Paul Van Osdol, a Kansas City lawyer who was a member of the American Law Institute and an original founder of the Legal Aid Society, was its first treasurer.

In its early days, the foundation’s mission included providing direct support to ill and incapacitated lawyers and their survivors, advancing the science of jurisprudence, promoting improvements in the administration of justice, and granting scholarships to law students. 

As the foundation matured, its activities included elevating and celebrating excellence through a handful of annual awards recognizing the best of our legal profession after rigorous vetting. Three distinguished young trial lawyers receive the Lon O. Hocker Award annually. Three young appellate advocates receive the annual David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award. An outstanding Journal of The Missouri Bar author is bestowed the annual W. Oliver Rasch Award. The annual Purcell Professionalism Award honors two lawyers for their professionalism. And one scholar, one lawyer, and one judge are recognized each year for their outstanding lifetime service toward the increase and diffusion of justice through the Spurgeon Smithson Award. 

Seventy-five years after its founding, the foundation’s charitable grant programs are no longer focused on individual needs, but on effective partnerships with The Missouri Bar, law schools, local and specialty bar organizations, legal aid organizations, and other charitable organizations with law-related programming. The foundation annually awards competitive grants, typically ranging from $5,000-$25,000, to projects that best assist the foundation’s mission of advancing the administration of justice, fostering public appreciation of the rule of law, and furthering our constitutional form of government. 

In 2026, the foundation is particularly interested in providing impact funding for innovative projects that:
– address unmet legal needs in rural Missouri;¹ 
– build student and public appreciation and support for the rule of law, due process, judicial review, and other legal guarantees within our constitutional form of government; or 
– enhance lawmakers’ understanding of the role of the judicial branch of government.

The foundation welcomes grant applications in these priority areas and others that can demonstrate a measurable impact furthering the foundation’s mission. Grant application information is available through MoBarFoundation.org. Other inquiries may be made to FoundationAwards@mobar.org. Applications are due not later than March 15 of the grant year cycle in which they are awarded. 

Of course, the foundation’s charitable activities would not be possible without the dedication of its trustees and officers and the generosity of donors. The foundation’s bylaws require many well-regarded judges and lawyers serve as trustees, as well as participation of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and the president and executive director of The Missouri Bar. 

Special gifts and bequests have made much of the foundation’s work possible, but foundation fellows form the core of our donors. 
– A fellow of The Missouri Bar Foundation is a member of The Missouri Bar in good standing who has contributed $1,000 in one payment to the foundation or made a pledge to pay a minimum of $200 per year for five consecutive years and contributes as pledged.
– Life fellows have contributed or pledged a lifetime aggregate of $3,400-$4,999.
– Advocate fellows have contributed or pledged a lifetime aggregate of $5,000-$9,999.
– Champion fellows have contributed or pledged an aggregate of $10,000-$24,999.
– Pillar fellows have contributed or pledged $25,000 or more. In 2024, the foundation added similar levels for firm donations: firm advocate, firm champion, and firm pillar. 

Tax deductible donations may be made online at MoBarFoundation.org or by mailing a donation to The Missouri Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 119, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0119.

In honor of the foundation’s 75th year, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to be an active part of its important mission of advancing the administration of justice, elevating the legal profession, fostering public appreciation of the rule of law, and furthering our constitutional form of government.

Endnotes

1 Erin Achenbach, “Legal deserts: Rural Missouri counties struggle with attorney shortages,” MISSOURI LAWYERS WEEKLY, Dec. 11, 2024, https://molawyersmedia.com/2024/12/11/legal-deserts-rural-missouri-counties-struggle-with-attorney-shortages.

Named after 1968-69 Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown a high standard of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. Each year, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees select one or two deserving recipients. The award includes a $500 stipend.  

For more information, visit the Purcell Professionalism Award nomination form or learn about the 2024 awardees, Debbie S. Champion and Dorothy L. White-Coleman.  

The Spurgeon Smithson Awards were established in 1976 by bequest of the late Smithson, a Kansas City lawyer. The Missouri Bar Foundation presents the awards annually to Missouri judges, law teachers, and/or lawyers deemed to have rendered outstanding service toward the increase and diffusion of justice. The recognition includes a $2,000 stipend.  

For more information, visit the Spurgeon Smithson Award nomination form or read about the 2024 awardees, Hon. Gayle L. Crane, Louis C. DeFeo Jr., and Mary Kathryn O’Malley. 

Both awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in September. 

Click here to learn what other awards The Missouri Bar Foundation offers.  

The David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award was created by The Missouri Bar Foundation to recognize outstanding achievement in appellate practice by young Missouri lawyers. The award identifies and acknowledges lawyers who excel in advocacy skills as observed by judges within Missouri's three appellate districts, the Supreme Court of Missouri, and/or the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.  

One lawyer from each district of the Missouri Court of Appeals will receive the award, which comes with a $750 stipend. Nominees must be younger than 40 years old as of Sept. 30, 2025, to be eligible.  

For more information, visit the David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award nomination form.  

The Lon O. Hocker Award is given to three young Missouri lawyers who exemplify the qualities of a trial lawyer, including professionalism and high ethical conduct. The awards, established in 1954, are presented at The Missouri Bar’s Annual Meeting, and the recipients receive a $750 stipend.  

Three lawyers selected from St. Louis, Kansas City, and another county in the state will receive this honor. Nominees must be younger than 40 years old as of Sept. 30, 2025, to be eligible.  

For more information, visit the Lon O. Hocker Award nomination form.  

Each nominee for the awards will receive an application form to be completed and returned to the foundation by March 15. A selection committee will then review the applications and recommend nominees for consideration by the trustees of The Missouri Bar Foundation, who make the final decision.  

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about past award winners here.  

It aims to do this through law-related community projects, scholarships, jurisprudential research, and recognition of exemplary legal and public service. The foundation’s work is made possible through generous donations from lawyers, law firms, and other supporters.

Becoming a fellow

A fellow of The Missouri Bar Foundation is a member of The Missouri Bar in good standing who has contributed $1,000 in one payment to the foundation or made a pledge to pay a minimum of $200 per year for five consecutive years and contributes as pledged.

After completing the initial pledge of $1,000, a fellow’s continued support is optional; however, The Missouri Bar Foundation depends on donations to continue its mission of supporting and expanding law-related education and charitable programs in Missouri. These additional donation levels are opportunities for fellows to continue contributing to The Missouri Bar Foundation after completing their initial pledge.

Individuals

Life fellows: contributed or pledged to contribute a lifetime aggregate of $3,500-$4,999.

Advocate fellows: contributed or pledged to contribute a lifetime aggregate of $5,000-$9,999.

Champion fellows: contributed or pledged to contribute a lifetime aggregate of $10,000-$24,999.

Pillar fellows: contributed or pledged to contribute a lifetime aggregate of $25,000 or more.

Firms

Firm advocate: contributed or pledged to contribute an aggregate of $5,000-$9,999.

Firm champion: contributed or pledged to contribute an aggregate of $10,000-$24,999.

Firm pillar: contributed or pledged to contribute an aggregate of $25,000 or more.

Learn more about MoBarFoundation.org.

The Missouri Bar Foundation awards the Lon O. Hocker Award to three trial lawyers under the age of 40 who demonstrate zealousness, honor, strength, courtesy, confidence, and respect. Established in 1954, the award is named after Lon O. Hocker, a lawyer who practiced in St. Louis for more than 50 years and was a well-respected trial lawyer. 

Estep, Kiesewetter Fax, and Rothermich will receive their awards on Sept. 18 in St. Louis during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference.

Estep

Estep is the deputy chief of the public protection section at the Attorney General’s Office, where she represents the state in the prosecution of criminal cases statewide and in seeking commitment of offenders under the Sexually Violent Predator Act. Prior to that, she was a prosecutor in Cole County and a prosecutor of the Special Victims Unit of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.

Estep’s trial work focuses largely on prosecuting child sexual assault cases. She said she views herself as a voice and advocate for the victims and family members of victims.

“Even though it is just another day in court or at work for me, I know that any given trial may be the most important days of a victim's life, and I carry that weight with me in the courtroom,” Estep said. “I feel privileged to carry that burden and use it as motivation every time I step into a courtroom.”

A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, Estep said her passion for law comes from “a strong sense of doing what is right.”

“I get to show up to work every day knowing I am dedicating my time and my skills to pursuing justice. There is nothing more fulfilling than that,” she said.

Looking at the past recipients of the Hocker Awards, Estep said she is “extremely humbled” to receive this year’s award. She advised new lawyers to stay true to themselves both in and out of the courtroom.

Kiesewetter Fax

Kiesewetter Fax is the first assistant prosecuting attorney in the special victim’s unit of the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where she prosecutes child abuse cases, child endangerment, sexual assaults, and rapes. She has tried almost 50 felony cases in her career, most involving special victims.

“Advocating and giving a voice to vulnerable victims, like children, drives my passion for the work that I do,” she said. “Seeking justice does not mean winning the case; it is about standing up for what is right.”

Kiesewetter Fax said receiving one of this year’s Hocker Awards is meaningful as she constantly strives to be respectful of everyone involved in trying a case.

She advised new lawyers to not be afraid to try difficult cases: “Win or lose, it will make you a better attorney and person.”

Along with trial work, Kiesewetter Fax is an adjunct instructor at Missouri State University. She also serves on the board of the Springfield Child Advocacy Center and volunteers with the Junior League of Springfield. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Kiesewetter Fax is the past chair of The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Council.

Rothermich

Rothermich is an associate circuit judge for the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County. She previously served as deputy chief of the Employment Litigation Division in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. She also worked as a lawyer with Legal Aid of Western Missouri, assisting clients in 13 counties with orders of protection, landlord-tenant cases, family law cases that involved allegations of abuse, and guardianships.

A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Rothermich tried 15 jury trials while at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, nine of which in the span of two years. She said she appreciates the cordial relationship she developed with her coworkers and opposing counsel during those trials.

“The art of advocating for a client while still maintaining professionalism in the courtroom is so important, and I have been met with support from others every step of the way,” she said.

Rothermich is driven by a true belief in the court system, particularly the trial process.

“What happens in a courtroom is essential to our society, and personally, I loved the personal challenge, the competition, and the advocacy for clients,” she said. “The best attorneys I have argued with and against embody a true sense of professionalism, and they advance the cause of justice in Missouri. I have learned so much from Missouri lawyers, so to be similarly recognized for my performance during trials is extremely special to me.”

Rothermich advised new lawyers to come to court prepared and be professional. She also encouraged lawyers to find their own voice and believe in the importance of their work.

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. 

Named after former Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown a high standard of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees nominate lawyers, and the board of trustees selects one or two award winners.

Champion and White-Coleman will receive their award on Sept. 18 in St. Louis during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference.

Champion

Champion is a founding partner of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch and Champion, where she focuses on a wide range of practice areas including various types of liability, personal injury, transportation, and more.

Being a lawyer, specifically a trial lawyer, is “the most important job in our civilization,” Champion said.

“Not only do lawyers play a vital role in upholding the rule of law, fighting for justice, and protecting individual rights, we hold the keys to justice,” she said. “As a result, we directly help make communities fair and equal.”

A graduate of Washington University School of Law, Champion is a member of The Missouri Bar, American College of Trial Attorneys, Lawyer's Association of St. Louis, Litigation Counsel of America, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Women's Lawyer's Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, and the Theodore McMillian Inns of Court.

“I am proud to be part of those groups because each of them stresses the importance of professionalism in our career,” she said. “Each of those organizations was built on the idea that we should help not just our clients, but each other.” 

Along with being a member of several legal organizations, Champion has volunteered with numerous legal and community organizations, as well as served on countless boards. Champion has also received many accolades over the years, including The Missouri Bar’s Pro Bono Publico Award – now known as the bar’s Pro Bono Award.

Champion’s No. 1 piece of advice to lawyers: “Develop a good relationship with failure!”

“You will never learn when you win,” she added. “If you win, you think you did everything right, and that is never true in the law practice. Ask people to watch and advise what you ‘failed at,’ even in a win.”  

White-Coleman

A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, White-Coleman is manager of White Coleman & Associates, LLC, where she practices business and commercial litigation, corporate and business law, tort litigation, and more. She has been a partner at White, Ovletrea & Watson, L.C., and Peoples, Hale & Coleman, as well as an associate at Husch & Eppenberger.

White-Coleman has served as the chair of the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri since 2016 and has been a committee member for over 16 years. She has also served on several other Supreme Court of Missouri commissions and committees, as well as The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees and The Missouri Bar Civil Practice and Procedure Committee.

“We are a diverse profession and we are all a part of the whole,” White-Coleman said. “It takes the perspectives, talents, energy and intellect of us all to ensure that we have the kind of profession that we all desire.”

She has received numerous awards, including The Missouri Bar President’s Award, for her commitment to helping even better serve her clients and community.

“In my view, when we serve our clients well and render service to our profession and the community, we help to contribute to the betterment of our great profession and society as a whole by ensuring that justice is served.”

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. 

Established in 1976, The Missouri Bar Foundation Spurgeon Smithson Awards recognize judges, law teachers, and/or lawyers who have provided outstanding services toward the increase and diffusion of justice. The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees selects the recipients, who each receive a $2,000 stipend. 

The three recipients will receive their awards on Sept. 18 in St. Louis during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar and Judicial Conference.

Crane

Crane became the first woman in Jasper County history to be elected as circuit judge for the 29th Judicial Circuit, a position she has held since 2006. She served as presiding judge from 2018-2021, as well as presiding juvenile judge from 2007-2018.

Along with her normal criminal and civil dockets, she has implemented a mental health court, DWI court, and juvenile diversion court.

Prior to serving as judge, she was a partner at Sotta & Crane law firm and graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

Crane encouraged lawyers to “find your passion and chase after it, regardless of the naysayers.”

“During your chase, enjoy the small accomplishments as much as the large accomplishments,” she added. “Be kind to yourself, and control your stress before it controls you. Get to know your fellow lawyers, especially older experienced lawyers, and learn from them. Don't worry about the small stuff. Have fun and enjoy the privilege of being part of this great profession.”

DeFeo

After retiring following 31 years as general counsel for the Missouri Catholic Counsel, DeFeo founded Legalcare – which later became part of the Samaritan Center. The mission was simple, DeFeo said: “That all – rich or poor – may experience the system of justice as a place of fair play and peace making.”

Staffed mainly by volunteers – many of whom are lawyers – Legalcare helps individuals in need with food, clothing, housing, utilities and more.

After recognizing that many retired, government, and corporate lawyers did not volunteer due to lack of malpractice coverage, DeFeo drafted and lobbied for Senate Bill 1247, which protects pro bono lawyers helping individuals in need without pay.

A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, DeFeo has served as chair of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s Committee on Access to Family Courts and written two e-books on pro bono for lawyers and trial judges.

O’Malley

O’Malley is director of the Children and Family Services Clinic and a clinical professor of law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. While director, the clinic established legal permanency for over 1000 children, most subject to juvenile court jurisdiction.

A past recipient of the Roger P. Krumm Family Law Award, O’Malley also served as the legal director of the Kansas City Youth Court housed at the law school for 17 years.

O’Malley was a state child protection worker for 13 years before graduating from Washburn University School of Law. She then became a prosecuting attorney at the Jackson County Family Court and later a partner at Raith & O’Malley.

This award is meaningful to O’Malley because it indicates “that I have (done) something right as I've pursued my goal of improving the lives of children through better legal representation and instilling a passion for representing the needs of abused and neglected children in my students.” 

O’Malley encouraged lawyers to be open-minded regarding the twists and turns of their career path and to end each day knowing you did the best job you could. She also emphasized inspiring and guiding others through your work.

“I encourage my students to provide pro bono service to children and families even if they do not end up in a family law career because we need smart, prepared, and caring lawyers for this work,” she said. “Seek leadership positions, especially ones where you can help address access to justice issues. I've learned from training teenaged youth attorneys for the Kansas City Youth Court that the next generation is ready and interested. Be their guides.

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. 

The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees accepts grant proposals throughout the year until Aug. 3. Funding decisions will be made at the January 2025 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Applications received after Aug. 3, 2024, will not be evaluated until January 2026. 

Who can apply?  

Grants are typically limited to organizations and activities performed within Missouri. The foundation does not give grants to individuals.  

What is the application process?  

To apply, submit a proposal to The Missouri Bar Foundation that includes: 

- A one-page cover letter summarizing the project, including the amount of requested funding.  

- Organizational background: Provide a brief history and mission of your organization, along with an overview of its current programs and any affiliations. Include the principal geographic area of service and the specific region or regions served.  

Project description: Briefly summarize the proposal, including description; target population; specific goals and objectives; activities planned to meet those goals; anticipated outcomes; expected challenges; projected timeline; methods of evaluation; any collaborating organization; and any linkage between the program and other community resources. 

- Statewide impact of a project is a key consideration; please include information regarding the statewide reach of the project.  

- Project budget: Include a detailed budget for the project. Be sure to address how the foundation funds will be used. Provide information about the total anticipated income and other potential or acquired sources of funding.  

Click here to download and complete a grant application. DO NOT submit proposals in notebooks, binders, or plastic folders.  

Address any proposals or questions to:  

The Missouri Bar Foundation  

326 Monroe | P.O. Box 119  

Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-638-2227 

Email: FoundationAwards@mobar.org  

The foundation cannot fund all grant applications it receives and cannot always meet the time constraints of some applications. The foundation may award limited or partial grants or may pay grants in installments. The foundation rarely funds the same project for multiple years.  

The Missouri Bar Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit partner to The Missouri Bar that supports bar members and their families and furthers law-related education across the state. The foundation is made possible through generous donations.  

Amy Collignon Gunn was appointed to the Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in September 2023.  

Gunn is a member of The Simon Law Firm, P.C. in St. Louis where she focuses on plaintiff personal injury trial work including product liability, medical negligence, and medical device litigation. Among other recognitions, she is a past recipient of the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award. 

Here, Gunn answers some questions about her new role. 

What made you interested in serving on the Board of Trustees? 

“My interest in the Missouri Bar Foundation began years ago when I was honored with the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award, which gave me confidence and pride as a young lawyer.  I have always endeavored to be a contributing member of our legal community and until now that service has occurred on other boards and organizations. I want to give back to the state bar.  Receiving the call to join the Board of Trustees has given me that opportunity, for which I am grateful.” 

What do you want lawyers to know about The Missouri Bar Foundation? 

“I hope every member of The Missouri Bar can take some time to acknowledge the importance of and support the good work of the foundation.” 

The Missouri Bar Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit partner to The Missouri Bar that supports bar members and their families and furthers the law-related education  across the state. The foundation is made possible through generous donations. 

Hon. Patrick Robb was appointed to the Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in September 2023. 

Robb has served as a circuit judge in the 5th judicial circuit of Missouri since 1988 and was presiding judge of the circuit from 1995 to 2019. He was a member of the Supreme Court of Missouri Committee on Procedure in Criminal Cases from 1995 to 2017 and served as chair of the committee from 2010 to 2017. He has also served as the chair of the Presiding Judges’ Executive Committee. 

Here, Robb answers some questions to help members of The Missouri Bar get to know him. 

What made you interested in serving on the Board of Trustees? 

I saw it as an opportunity to work with the other trustees and to utilize the foundation's resources to improve the court system and educate the public about the law and the judicial system. 

Why is the foundation important to you? 

Several reasons, but primarily because of the positive things it does for the state's judicial system. It supports legal education by awarding scholarships to law students and recognizes outstanding public service of individuals that work in our court system. 

What do you want lawyers to know about The Missouri Bar Foundation? 

The Missouri Bar Foundation is there to support the improvement of the administration of justice and the education of the public about courts and the rule of law. 

For more information on the Missouri Bar Foundation visit MoBarFoundation.org.  

The Missouri Bar Foundation has named Hon. Patricia Breckenridge, Hon. George W. Draper III, and Paul N. Venker this year’s Spurgeon Smithson Award recipients for their contributions toward increasing the quality of the administration of justice. They will be recognized Sept. 13, 2023, during the Missouri Bar Foundation and Public Service Awards Luncheon at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Kansas City. 

Established in 1976, the Spurgeon Smithson Awards recognize judges, law teachers, and/or lawyers who have provided outstanding services toward the increase and diffusion of justice. The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees selects the recipients, who each receive a $2,000 stipend.  

Upon graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1977, Breckenridge returned to her hometown of Nevada where she began her practice at Russell, Brown, Bickel & Breckenridge. While practicing, she served as assistant municipal judge for the city of Nevada. In 1982 she was appointed associate circuit judge of Vernon County, and she held that position until being appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District in 1990.  

Breckenridge was appointed to the Supreme Court of Missouri in 2007. She served as chief justice from 2015-2017, establishing many committees and task forces to improve procedural fairness and civics education for all Missourians.  

“Each of us can improve the trust and confidence of our citizens in our legal and judicial systems by consciously committing every day to doing the right thing in performing our duties,” Breckenridge said. 

Draper, a graduate of Howard University School of Law in Washington D.C., was appointed to the Supreme Court of Missouri in October 2011. He served as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri from 2019-2021 leading Missouri’s courts through the unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. He retired from the bench in August 2023. Before serving on the Supreme Court of Missouri, he was a circuit attorney and a circuit and appellate judge. 

Draper, along with both his father and wife, is an inaugural member of the Gallery of St. Louis Legal Pioneers with the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He also serves as a trial advocacy adjunct professor for Saint Louis University School of Law where he has taught since 1996.  

“It was an honor to serve,” Draper said. “But I believe it is imperative in the service of justice that more minorities be appointed to the bench.” 

After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1980, Venker clerked at the Supreme Court of Missouri. Following a stint at his own firm, he was managing partner at Williams Venker & Sanders from 2001 to 2018 and is now senior counsel to Baker Sterchi Cowden.  

Venker has been active in bar work since he was elected to The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Council in 1987. He served on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors from 1992-2000. Venker has served as chair for the Freedom Suits Memorial Steering Committee since 2014. The committee’s work was integral to establishing the Freedom Suits Memorial in the City of St. Louis. Venker says he is driven by a passion to ensure that everyone’s Constitutional right to a fair trial is upheld.  

“No one is perfect, but all deserve a zealous and evidence-based defense and a right to a fair trial,” Venker said.  

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2023 award winners here. 

The charitable partner of The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation promotes improvement in the administration of justice through funding law-related community projects, scholarships for law students, recognition of exemplary legal and public service, and preserving the American constitutional form of government.  Grants recipients were asked to provide updates as to the impact of projects funded by the foundation grants. Highlights from three of those reports are featured here:

Teacher resources benefitting students

The Missouri Bar Citizenship Education Department received $17,000 to revamp its teacher resources available on MissouriLawyersHelp.org . This project aimed to create a catalog of lesson plans, presentations, and classroom materials that would be used to help Missouri teachers instruct their students about the law.  Considering that an individual high school teacher typically teaches more than 100 students a year, each year thousands of students benefit from a better understanding of the law.

The Citizenship Education Department partnered with nine teachers from across Missouri to create robust lesson plans that would inspire students and teachers alike. They group met at The Missouri Bar Center on three separate occasions, working together to create, review, and critique lesson plans. These sessions resulted in 51 lesson plans across six units of American Government.

“It is important that the lessons be accessible to all Missouri teachers,” Dr. Anthony Simones, director of the Citizenship Education Department, states in the grant report to the trustees. “The first two units covering the foundations of government and the United States Constitution are already published with more units planned for release throughout the school year.”

Simones added that to make sure that any teacher could make use of the lesson plans regardless of their school’s software or education level, the plans are easily customizable and accessible via Google Drive. The Missouri Bar Communications Department created a new landing page on MissouriLawyersHelp.org to house links to the lessons. 

Senior Citizens Handbook 21st edition

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri received a $6,000 grant to fund an update of the Senior Citizens Handbook. The Senior Citizens Handbook is a legal resource that helps older Missourians understand their legal rights and responsibilities. The goal for the newest edition is to make the handbook less overwhelming and easier for readers to understand through the support of visual elements.

Handbook chapters are revised by lawyers and reviewed by Health Literacy Media to simplify the language for the average reader. Once a chapter is finished it is then sent to The Missouri Bar who designs, publishes, and distributes the handbook. As of August 2023, more than half of the chapters have been revised and are ready for layout.

Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program received a $1,000 grant from The Missouri Bar Foundation to help with expenses from the 2022 Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference, which offered educational opportunities for volunteers and committee members who work with MOLAP. Topics at the hybrid event included lawyer well-being, mental health, substance recovery, related ethics topics, and more.

With a total of 73 participants at the hybrid conference, many of the educational programs were rebroadcast in the following months to reach a broader audience.

For more information about grant opportunities through The Missouri Bar Foundation, click here.

Named after 1968-69 Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown a high standard of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. Each year, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees select one or two deserving recipients. This year, the honor goes to Lisa A. Weixelman and Raymond E. Williams. 

The two will be recognized Sept. 13 during The Missouri Bar Foundation & Public Service Awards Luncheon at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Kansas City. 

Upon graduating from The University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 1982, Weixelman started her career at Jackson & Sherman, where she was immediately absorbed into trial work in civil cases. She joined her current firm, Polsinelli, in 1987 as the 48th lawyer; the firm now has over 1,000 lawyers with offices nationwide. Licensed in Missouri and Kansas, she is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts including the U. S. Supreme Court, where she has tried civil lawsuits and argued before the court of appeals.  

Weixelman, who aims to zealously advocate for clients while remaining candid says that compassion is crucial when practicing.  

“To be a great counselor and advocate, you must be an expert on the legal issues and the rules of practice,” Weixelman said. “But earning a client’s trust takes more, and that is where a commitment to honesty and compassion really matters. If there is any trait that singles me out, I hope it is my desire to practice law with compassion.”  

Raymond E. Williams is a 1992 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Order of Barristers, as well as editor-in-chief of the Missouri Law Review. He is currently a solo practitioner with offices in West Plains and Eminence, where he works with individuals, businesses, and government entities on a range of legal matters.  

Williams served on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors from 2008-2020, including in the role of president of The Missouri Bar from 2018-2019. He is still active with the bar, now as a member of The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees and chair of the Government Relations Committee. He is also a member of the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee and serves on boards for several other legal organizations.  

“Our profession is more than just the day-to-day practice of law,” Williams said. “It is critical that Missouri lawyers continue to work together to improve the law and the practice of law in our state.” 

Weixelman and Williams will join the prestigious list of more than 40 Purcell award recipients since 1995. As part of the award, they will each receive a $500 stipend. 

Click here to learn more about awards presented annually by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2023 award winners here. 

Katharine P. Curry, Michael T. Raupp, and Alexandria Shah have been named the 2023 recipients of the David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award. The award was created by The Missouri Bar Foundation to recognize outstanding achievement in appellate practice by young members of The Missouri Bar. The award is named after the late Judge Dixon, whose tenacity, professionalism, and judicial skills epitomize outstanding appellate practice. This recognition goes to three young lawyers under 40 who perform outstanding appellate work. 

This year’s David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award honorees will be presented the award Sept. 13, 2023, during The Missouri Bar Foundation & Public Service Awards Luncheon at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Kansas City. 

Katharine P. Curry received her J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2012. After graduating, she returned to her hometown of St. Charles to work at Eisenstein Law LLC where she focused on family law and contracts. In 2017, she began her current position as senior public defender in the Central Appellate Office of the Missouri State Public Defender.  

Curry’s practice primarily involves appeals related to post-conviction relief in criminal cases for low-income clients across Missouri, which she believes is important for both her clients and society. Curry said she is driven by the feeling that her work is an important part of a functioning criminal justice system. 

“My work feels worthwhile and challenging, and I sincerely feel like I am providing an actual service by ensuring my clients' fundamental rights are meaningfully honored,” Curry said. She added she enjoys the intellectual rigor of appellate work, engaging with complex legal issues, and thinking creatively about the law. 

Michael T. Raupp earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2012. After graduation, he served as a clerk to the Hon. Duane Benton of the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He joined Husch Blackwell in 2013 and has successfully represented several clients before the U.S. Court of Appeals. He has also represented clients in petitions and briefings at the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Raupp enjoys the opportunity to learn about new areas of law through his appellate litigation. 

“With each new case, you have the chance to do a deep dive into specific legal topics, some of which you have likely never encountered before,” Raupp said. “I love the opportunity to continue to learn in that way.” 

Alexandria Shah received her J.D. from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She spent several years after graduation at the Missouri State Public Defender System as a trial lawyer and senior public defender. Shah now serves as staff attorney for the 22nd Judicial Circuit in the City of St. Louis where she focuses on juvenile delinquency trials and appeals.  

Having worked on both trial court and appellate cases, Shah recognizes the importance of the bigger picture and how one case can affect the client and society as a whole. 

“Appellate practice is different in that the results of your case can also set precedent for future cases. Using that framework and knowing the bigger picture of your case helps in deciding which claims to raise on appeal,” Shah said. “Getting a great result at the trial court level can mean nothing if it will not stand on appeal.” 

Congratulations to this year’s award winners. These three lawyers will receive a $750 stipend from The Missouri Bar Foundation for their outstanding service to the administration of justice. 

For more information regarding this award and past winners, please click here. 

Jessica Caldera, Craig Schlapprizzi, and David Wiegert will be presented this year’s Lon O. Hocker Awards for their commendable work as trial lawyers. 

The Missouri Bar Foundation awards the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award to three trial lawyers under the age of 40 who demonstrate balance between zealousness and honor, strength and courtesy, confidence and respect, as well as other professional qualities. The lawyers are selected from three different regions: St.Louis, Kansas City, and all other counties. Established in 1954, the award is named after Lon O. Hocker, a lawyer who practiced in St. Louis for more than 50 years and was a well-respected trial lawyer. The awards will be presented Sept. 13, 2023, during The Missouri Bar Foundation & Public Service Awards Luncheon at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Kansas City.  

Caldera is a partner at Harper, Evans, Wade and Netemeyer in Columbia. She received her J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2011. She then joined the Attorney General’s office as an assistant attorney general. Caldera also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Boone County prior to joining her currrent firm.  

Caldera said that she loves the challenge and thrill of a trial, noting that although it can be difficult and exhausting, it is a critical part of the justice system. 

“It's a privilege to stand up in court and tell a jury that I represent an individual client whose liberty is at stake or the citizens of my county and the public safety at large,” Caldera said. “I recognize that privilege each time I make an argument in court and strive to be as prepared and humble as possible throughout.” 

Craig Schlapprizzi received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2009. He works with his father and sister at their practice in St. Louis, where he focuses on personal injury cases and represents clients across the United States. 

Schlapprizzi’s father, who he refers to as his hero, is a former recipient of the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award, and Schlapprizzi says he is honored to now share this recognition with him.  

Schlapprizzi’s suggests that new lawyers is to find a mentor either through personal connection or online resources, noting, “Even if you can't find a mentor you are able to see or interact with on a daily or weekly basis, there are so many resources now for aspiring trial lawyers - podcasts, books, recorded presentations, and trials being live-streamed.” 

Wiegert has worked in the Missouri State Public Defender System since 2012, first in Caruthersville and currently in Kansas City. He completed his undergraduate studies at William Jewell College in 2008 and received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 2011. In addition, Wiegert also graduated from the National Criminal Defense College in 2018.  

Wiegert says he is honored to receive this award and notes that he shares it with his colleagues and staff whose support is crucial to his work.  

His advice to new lawyers is to “Know why you are fighting and fight hard with integrity and discernment. It takes a great deal of practice to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, so seek counsel from those whose judgment is more seasoned than your own.” 

Click here to learn more about The Missouri Bar’s annual awards.  

Dr. Isaac Amon has been named the 2023 W. Oliver Rasch Award for his in-depth article, “The enduring lesson of John Lilburne's saga: Self-incrimination in the criminal justice system” in the January/February 2022 Journal of The Missouri Bar. Amon will be presented the award Sept. 13, 2023, during The Missouri Bar Foundation & Public Service Awards Luncheion at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Kansas City.

The Missouri Bar Foundation gives the award to authors who write standout articles in the Journal. Each year, the Journal’s Editorial Board recommends an author to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, and the foundation selects the award winner. Created in 1986, the W. Oliver Rasch Award is named after the former chair of the editorial board and includes a $500 cash stipend.  

Dr. Amon is a researcher, lawyer, and counselor at law. He currently serves as the director of academic research at the Jewish Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and future of Sephardic Jews. He obtained a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Laws in negotiation and dispute resolution and Doctor of Juridical Science in comparative criminal procedure at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. 

Amon’s article, “The enduring lesson of John Lilburne's saga: Self-incrimination in the criminal justice system,” discusses the 1637 trial of John Lilburne and how it affected the modern legal system and the rights we now often take for granted.  

Amon said he was surprised to receive the award and sincerely thanks the members of The Missouri Bar Foundation for choosing his article. He added that he hopes this recognition for his article will spark a greater interest in John Lilburne. 

“I accept this award on behalf of furthering John Lilburne's legacy and the foundational role his immense self-sacrifice played in enshrining the right against self-incrimination in the U.S. Constitution,” Amon said. “He died penniless and in obscurity, but this man full of determination resisted an unjust system and prevailed.” 

Click here to learn how Missouri lawyers can submit articles to the Journal (and receive continuing legal education credit for their publications). 

Amon encourages all lawyers, especially new lawyers, to learn the history of the law and appreciate the art of research. He believes that we would cherish our rights and system more if we better understood their origins. He also encourages lawyers to write and speak about the things they learn. 

“Speak and write on something you're passionate about and you won't go wrong. The writing will flow and who knows, perhaps you will inspire lawyers yet to come,” he said. 

Click here to learn more about annual awards from The Missouri Bar Foundation, The Missouri Bar, and Young Lawyers’ Section. You can also read articles about other 2023 award winners here. 

Who can apply? 

Grants are typically limited to organizations and activities performed within Missouri. The foundation does not make grants to individuals.  

What is the application process? 

To apply, submit a proposal to The Missouri Bar Foundation that includes the following information: (Note: DO NOT submit proposals in notebooks, binders, or plastic folders) 

• A one-page cover letter summarizing the project, including the amount of requested funding. 
• Organizational background: Provide a brief history and mission of your organization, along with an overview of its current programs and any affiliations. Include the principal geographic area of service and the specific region or regions served. 
• Project description: Briefly summarize the proposal, including the following: 
• Description of need 
• Target population 
• Specific goals and objectives 
• Activities planned to meet those goals 
• Anticipated outcomes 
• Expected challenges 
• Project timeline 
• Methods of evaluation 
• Any collaborating organizations 
• Any linkages between the program and other community resources 
• Statewide impact of a project is a key consideration; please include information regarding the statewide reach of the project. 
• Project budget: Include a detailed budget for the project. Be sure to address how the foundation funds will be used. Provide information about the total anticipated income and other potential or acquired sources of funding. 
• A completed Grant Application, available here.

Address any proposals or questions to: The Missouri Bar Foundation 326 Monroe | P.O. Box 119 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-638-2227 Email: FoundationAwards@mobar.org  

The foundation cannot fund all grant applications it receives and cannot always meet the time constraints of some applications. The foundation may award limited or partial grants or may pay grants in installments. The foundation rarely funds the same project for multiple years. 

A note from Missouri Bar Executive Director Mischa Buford Epps: I have the great fortune of witnessing the impact Missouri lawyers make on the world around us. One of the ways you do so is through your contributions to and support of The Missouri Bar Foundation. To help drive home this point, I extended an invitation to Lynn Ann Vogel, past Missouri Bar president and current president of The Missouri Bar Foundation, to share about the great work the foundation continues to do for citizens across our state.   
 

Most of us went to law school to help people, and the foundation allows us to do just that.

The pioneers of philanthropy who created “foundations” were Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. After experimenting with several ways to form charities, they formatted their endeavors similarly to a corporation by allowing a board of “trusted people” to decide how to donate their money to best serve the needs of others.

I am fascinated with the perfection of determining that these boards of “trusted” people would be called “foundations.” There are myriad other words they could have used, but “foundation” is the perfect one. It is simple and says everything these principled people were creating. Synonyms for “foundation” are base, bedrock, justification, heart, footing, support, and groundwork.  Money is the support and groundwork of the needs of all charities. It is the “foundation” upon which all good works and deeds can be accomplished.

I am honored to serve as one of The Missouri Bar Foundation Trustees, which helps maintain, grow, and distribute funds generously donated to the foundation. Contributing to the foundation supports the principles of the rule of law and assists the public by granting funds to organizations that help people.

Because of the generosity of Missouri lawyers over the years, The Missouri Bar Foundation has been the bedrock and the footing for many new and existing programs. Among such programs have been legal services to indigents and low-income Missourians, Missouri Girls and Boys State, law-related education for teachers and students in Missouri schools, and initiatives to help lawyers address mental health and substance use issues.

We are proud to lend a helping hand to these admirable causes and organizations, but we wouldn’t be able to if it wasn’t for you – Missouri lawyers – and your generous contributions. You can continue to help us assist these deserving programs by contributing to The Missouri Bar Foundation. Visit MoBarFoundation.org to learn how you can give back.  

We know lawyers want to even better serve their clients and communities, and The Missouri Bar Foundation is here to help you do just that – through charity and generosity. 

The Missouri Bar Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit partner to The Missouri Bar that supports lawyers and their families, as well as furthers the law-related education of members and citizens in the state.

Teacher resources

The Missouri Bar Citizenship Education Department received $17,000 total from two foundation grants, each worth $8,500. The grants will help fund an overhaul of The Missouri Bar’s teacher resources webpage on MissouriLawyersHelp.org – including amassing a catalog of lesson plans, presentations, and classroom materials, as well as creating and implementing a marketing strategy to prompt teachers from across Missouri to access the materials.

The Citizenship Education Department already offers several educational events for teachers – like Summer Institute and the Street Law Professional Development Workshop. During these programs, the department shares resources that educators can take back to their classrooms. While many of these materials are already on MissouriLawyersHelp.org, teachers often don’t realize they are available and free to download.

“The teachers who are exposed to materials created by The Missouri Bar use them to achieve extraordinary things in their classrooms,” Dr. Anthony Simones, director of the Citizenship Education Department, states in the grant application. “The problem is that we are reaching only a small percentage of teachers (through Citizenship Education programs) … Our objective is to use the teacher resources webpage to reach a greater number of teachers … across the entirety of Missouri in every setting, from the largest of cities to the most remote of rural locations.”

The department plans to launch the redesigned teacher resources webpage and marketing plan later this year.

Statewide poverty law training

Legal Services of Southern Missouri received a $10,000 grant from The Missouri Bar Foundation on behalf of the state’s four Legal Aid programs – Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and Legal Aid of Western Missouri – for statewide poverty law training.

The proposed two-day statewide training would focus on landlord-tenant law, domestic violence prevention, elimination of legal barriers to employment, and best practices to assist veterans, among other topics, according to the grant application. These trainings would help about 240 Legal Aid lawyers and staff stay up to date on areas related to poverty law.

“Statewide trainings are a cost-effective way of training large numbers of Legal Aid staff members on changes in the law, particularly those that are uniquely applicable to attorneys representing low-income clients,” the grant application states. “The trainings also facilitate the sharing of information about new best practices that strengthen the programs’ ability to provide high-quality legal representation to all Missourians.”

The Legal Aid programs anticipate conducting the statewide training in fall 2023.

Senior Citizens Handbook

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri received $6,000 from The Missouri Bar Foundation to continue publishing the Senior Citizens Handbook, a legal resource that helps older Missourians understand their legal rights and responsibilities.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has partnered with The Missouri Bar since 1977 to produce, publish, and distribute the handbook. The foundation has funded printing services of the handbook since 2011, according to the grant application.

The Senior Citizens Handbook is also available on MissouriLawyersHelp.org.

Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program received a $1,000 grant from The Missouri Bar Foundation to help with expenses from the 2022 annual Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference, which offered educational opportunities for volunteers and committee members who work with MOLAP. Topics at the hybrid event included lawyer wellbeing, mental health, substance recovery, related ethics topics, and more.

The 2022 Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference will be rebroadcasted as a webinar from 8 a.m.-12:45 p.m. April 7. Click here to register for the event.

For more information about grant opportunities through The Missouri Bar Foundation, click here.

Named after former Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown a high standard of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees nominate lawyers, and the board of trustees selects one or two award winners.

Cutler is a partner at James W. Tippin & Associates, where she focuses on education law and civil defense litigation. Cutler has served in various leadership roles, including as the first Black woman to serve as Missouri Bar president from 2016 to 2017. She has also received numerous awards for her legal achievements. Cutler and her husband and law partner, Keith Cutler, are well-known for being co-judges on a two-time Emmy-nominated daytime television courtroom show, “Couples Court with the Cutlers.” A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Cutler was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1989.

Cutler is grateful to receive this year’s Purcell award since it indicates that her peers and other members of the judiciary “recognize (my) efforts to do good and to treat others as you would like to be treated.” This award also holds a special place in her heart as her father, James Tippin, received the award in 2011.

“My dad always emphasized the importance of collegiality with opposing counsel and respect for the bench, so to receive this award suggests I may have met the high standard he modeled for me,” she said.

Cutler is also honored to receive this award alongside Dodson, who Cutler considers one of her “she-roes in law.”

“(Dodson is) one of my mentors who gave me so many unique opportunities to grow in the profession,” she said.

Dodson is a retired lawyer who worked at various institutions including Stolar Partnership, Polsinelli, and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, among others. She also made history in 1990 as the first woman to serve as Missouri Bar president. Even though Dodson is retired, she continues to volunteer with The Missouri Bar Foundation, American Bar Foundation, and the Supreme Court of Missouri’s disciplinary system. Dodson graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974.

“My years on the Board of Governors and then in the ABA and the foundations of both allowed me to work on the issues I care about most— legal services for the poor, judicial independence, and immigration reform,” she said.

Dodson hopes lawyers always remember the passion that drove them to law school and their legal careers.

“Yes, the practice of law has changed; yes, there are demands on time of family and work. But our community (and) our country need the skills lawyers bring in so many areas,” she said. “The organized bar — local, state, national — is an excellent way lawyers can follow their passions and make their legal careers fulfilling.”

Cutler and Dodson will join the prestigious list of more than 40 Purcell award recipients since 1995. As part of the award, Cutler and Dodson will each receive a $500 stipend.

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2022 award winners here.

This year’s award winners will be recognized at Annual Meeting Sept. 14-16.

The Missouri Bar Foundation awards the Lon O. Hocker Award to three trial lawyers under the age of 40 who demonstrate zealousness, honor, strength, courtesy, confidence, and respect. The lawyers are selected from three different regions: St. Louis, Kansas City, and all other counties. Established in 1954, the award is named after Lon O. Hocker, a lawyer who practiced in St. Louis for more than 50 years and was a well-respected trial lawyer. 

Accurso is a lawyer at The Accurso Law Firm in Kansas City, representing clients who have suffered catastrophic physical, emotional, and financial injuries. After graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and being admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2014, Accurso began his career as an assistant prosecuting attorney at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Accurso said he is honored and humbled to receive this year’s Lon O. Hocker Award. His passion for trial advocacy is founded in his drive to represent those in need, particularly individuals who have experienced a trauma or life-changing experience.

“What means the most to those folks is the fact that someone is willing to stand up for them and fight on their behalf,” he said. “While I always want to obtain a favorable result, what’s most important to me is that whomever I’m representing knows that I fought my hardest for them”

As a trial lawyer specializing in personal injury, Cronin enjoys “fighting for the little guy.” At The Simon Law Firm, P.C., Cronin practices in product liability, medical malpractice, premises liability, and trucking litigation.

In one situation, he described a case where a jury awarded his client more than $16.7 million in damages due to the plaintiff’s doctor prescribed large amounts of narcotic opioids, leading to the plaintiff becoming addicted to the pain medicine. This case not only helped compensate Cronin’s client but also sent a powerful message to the industry to ensure safer products and practices.

“There is no better feeling than when you begin a case and you see there is an obstacle in front of you and a lot of potential pitfalls, and … at the end of it you have traversed through them and succeeded in knowing you’ve done everything you can for your client,” said Cronin, who was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2011. “The fact that I can do that for someone, help and fight for them during a difficult and scary time of their lives, is the reason I do what I do.

Fuhrman is first assistant prosecuting attorney of the major crimes unit at the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where he has tried 45 jury trials and 17 murder trials. A University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law graduate, Fuhrman was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2009.

Fuhrman has a desire to protect his community from violent offenders and hold offenders accountable. There have been several cases where he has met with a homicide victim’s family and saw their pain and emotions. While he understands a guilty verdict won’t bring the victim back, Fuhrman said, he hopes the verdict can help provide closure for the family.

“The cases that stick out to me the most are the ones where I was able to help provide closure to a grieving family and justice to the deceased victim,” he said. “Those are the cases that motivate me to continue fighting to hold violent offenders accountable.”

Fuhrman recommended new lawyers learn from other lawyers by watching them try cases, while Cronin emphasized perseverance and being “the most prepared person in the room.” Accurso encouraged lawyers to “outwork your opponents” and believe in themselves and their cases.

“How could anyone expect a dozen strangers to agree with you and the arguments you make if they’re not convinced you believe in your case and your arguments?” Accurso added.

Accurso, Cronin, and Fuhrman join the list of notable past recipients of the award. To receive the award, which carries a $750 stipend, a member of The Missouri Bar must first nominate a lawyer. Nominees then complete applications, which a selection committee reviews and recommends three nominees to the Trustees of the Missouri Bar Foundation. The trustees then select the award recipients.

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar and the Missouri Bar Foundation. The 2022 awards will be presented at Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar Sept. 14-16 in Springfield.

The Missouri Bar Foundation gives the award to authors who write standout articles in the Journal. Each year, the Journal’s Editorial Board recommends an author to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, and the foundation selects the award winner. Created in 1986, the W. Oliver Rasch Award is named after the former chair of the editorial board and includes a $500 cash stipend. 

Meyer is a lawyer at Lear Werts LLP in Columbia, where he focuses on consumer protection, mass tort, class action, and employment matters. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2018. He is part of the bar’s Leadership Academy 2021-22 class.

Meyer’s article, “Standing in Missouri’s Federal and State Courts,” compares and analyzes standing doctrine in the two court systems. It makes a normative point that Missouri’s courts haven’t adopted Article III’s more stringent standing requirements, and what that means for the court system and litigants.

Meyer said he is honored to receive this year’s award and contribute to the academic conversation surrounding standing doctrine. He noted all Missouri Bar members should consider submitting articles for publication in the Journal.

“The Journal is a high-quality trade publication and should be a place for bar members both to describe the law of Missouri and to build consensus around burgeoning legal topics,” he said.

Click here to learn how Missouri lawyers can submit articles to the Journal (and receive continuing legal education credit for their publications).

Along with helping lawyers even better serve their clients, Meyer said he is privileged to represent Missouri residents daily.

“No one is better off having to file a lawsuit, but the other lawyers at my firm and I work tirelessly to help those who have suffered damages be put back in a position to be made whole,” he said.

Click here to learn more about annual awards from The Missouri Bar Foundation, The Missouri Bar, and Young Lawyers’ Section. You can also read articles about other 2022 award winners here.

The Missouri Bar Foundation is a charitable, non-profit partner to The Missouri Bar that helps fund projects, support bar members and their families, and further the law-related education of members and citizens in the state. Last September, five new members were appointed to The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees.

Apollo Carey

Apollo Carey practices corporate, transactional, and regulatory law for Lewis Rice LLC in St. Louis. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law with a juris doctorate and went on to complete a master of law from Washington University School of Law. Carey is a member of The Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Judge Lisa White Hardwick

Hon. Lisa White Hardwick has been a judge with the Missouri Court of Appeals-Western District since May 2001. Prior to that, she was appointed as a circuit judge in Jackson County, the 16th Judicial Circuit. She earned her juris doctorate in 1985 from Harvard Law School. Hardwick is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Jackson County Bar Association, and the Association of Women Lawyers.

Judge Daniel Scott (Retired)

Hon. Daniel Scott retired from the Missouri Court of Appeals-Southern District on Dec. 31, 2020, after serving 14 years in that position. He earned his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1980 and served as an assistant county prosecutor and special prosecutor from 1982 to 2006. Scott served on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and as chair of the bar’s Young Lawyers’ Section.

Craig Smith

Craig Smith was born and raised in Cape Girardeau. He served as a park ranger in the National Park Service before earning his juris doctorate in 1987 at the University of Missouri School of Law. Smith clerked for the Missouri Court of Appeals-Southern District and was an associate and partner in a private law firm before returning to the court as a staff counsel. Smith has been employed with O’Reilly Automotive Stores for 16 years.

Ray Williams

Ray Williams graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Missouri Law Review. Williams became a member of the Missouri Bar Board of Governors in 2008 and served as president of The Missouri Bar from 2018-19. He has a general practice, Williams Law Offices LLC – with offices in West Plains and Eminence – where he represents clients in civil and criminal matters.

The foundation’s mission is to promote improvement in the administration of justice by encouraging and funding law-related endeavors, recognizing legal and public service, and supporting scholarships and community projects. Examples of recent projects can be found here.

American Legion Missouri Boys and Girls State

Missouri Boys and Girls State are programs founded in 1938 and 1940, respectively, to provide high school students with an appreciation and knowledge of democratic principles. Each year, 1,000 young men and 800 young women attend these week-long programs focusing on democracy, citizenship, and civic engagement.

The programs are held in June at the University of Central Missouri, featuring a total immersion into the democratic process. Students are divided into cities, counties, and political parties and run for governmental and political positions that mirror the real world. The foundation’s grant helped underwrite the cost of law school faculty and print the numerous forms, booklets, manuals, and other instructional materials provided to the participants in these programs.

Legal Aid of Western Missouri

In 2021, for low-income individuals, the rise in COVID-19 related unemployment led to a housing crisis. The home mortgage delinquency rate, historically 1-2%, increased to more than 8% - the highest rate since the Great Recession. Eviction rates also skyrocketed. Between January 1 and July 31, 2021, 128 housing law cases were resolved, with 50 more pending completion. Another 200-225 housing law case applications are anticipated by year's end.

On behalf of all four legal aid organizations in Missouri, Legal Aid of Western Missouri applied for and received two successive grants to identify and provide specific legal assistance to individuals facing homelessness. The four legal aid programs in Missouri continue to partner with other community agencies that serve low-income individuals to identify those at risk of becoming homeless and provide direct legal aid such as letters of counsel and advice, legal consultation and representation, and court filings and appearances.

Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel

Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel (MCRC) submitted a request for two years of funding to underwrite five fellowships awarded to graduates with a master’s degree in social work who commit to one year of service at Catholic Legal Assistance Ministries (CLAM), an agency of Catholic Charities; and one year of service with the Missouri State Public Defender (MSPD) system through the MCRC.

Clients meeting the threshold of a need for a public defender experience a myriad of intersecting issues - poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, and more. Social workers have developed and been trained with the skills to identify, engage with, and provide community referrals to individuals with needs beyond legal assistance. By providing these services in conjunction with lawyers, social workers in public defender and legal assistance offices can assist with a client’s immediate needs, provide empathetic communication skills to develop a strong relationship with clients, and gather life history information for mitigation at sentencing.

The Missouri Bar Citizenship Education Department’s Summer Institute

The Summer Institute annually provides education and training to teachers from public, parochial, and private schools across the state on the latest developments in constitutional law, as well as methodologies that promote an interactive learning environment and critical thinking among students.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute was held virtually hosting 24 teachers, representing every part of Missouri, from small as well as large schools, with rural and urban student populations benefitting from this teacher-focused training.

Additionally, The Missouri Bar Citizenship Education Department provides training and resources throughout the state to teachers, community groups, and individuals. Funds provided by The Missouri Bar Foundation support the development of programs, the distribution of materials, and the ongoing education of the public in civics.

The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation’s Student Law Academy

This grant facilitated the creation of a pre-law fellowship that aids scholars of the KCMBA Student Law Academy (SLA) to be admitted to the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law and, ultimately, become licensed Missouri lawyers. The SLA provides under-served high school students with meaningful exposure to careers in the legal profession and a broad overview of the legal system. The fellowship provides funds to graduates of the high school SLA program for LSAT fees and law school application expenses. Participation in the fellowship will also include lawyer mentors, LSAT and 1L preparation courses, application assistance, interview preparation, letters of recommendation, and networking opportunities.

How you can help

Your support is vital to The Missouri Bar Foundation’s ability to serve as a source of financial assistance for essential projects like these. To learn how you can help Missourians through support of the foundation, click here.

Established in 1976, the Spurgeon Smithson Awards recognize judges, law teachers, and/or lawyers who have provided outstanding services toward the increase and diffusion of justice. The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees selects the recipients, and each award recipient receives a $2,000 stipend. 

Stith provided nearly 27 years of judicial service before retiring from the Supreme Court of Missouri in March 2021 – where she was the Court’s longest-serving judge, at two decades of service. She was also the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Missouri and as its chief justice, from July 2007 through June 2009. A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C., she currently serves as a senior judge for Missouri.  

Stith said there is no award she could treasure more than the Spurgeon Smithson Award since her goal as a judge is to provide and spread equal justice. She added her $2,000 award stipend will be donated to the Brennan Center for Justice, in her name, so the center can “use that money to further protect the right to justice by supporting democracy and the rule of law.” 

“There are (individuals) who either don’t believe the laws are being applied fairly, or who do not wish them to be applied fairly and seek to bend them to their will,” Stith said. “The courts have shown themselves to be a fair forum in which these grievances can be heard and determined. And helping spread faith in justice and the rule of law is an important reason why I became a judge in the first place.” 

Mitchell is a professor at the University of Missouri School of Law and founding co-director of the Michael A. Middleton Center for Race, Citizenship and Justice. Mitchell previously served as the associate dean for academic affairs, as well as the chair of the University of Missouri System on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force and the University of Missouri Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, Mitchell said he is humbled to receive the award and believed it represented service and dedication to others. He recognized those who were unable to practice law or attend law school due to their race, adding he teaches at the law school as an honor to those individuals’ sacrifices. 

“I find the teaching of the law to be a privilege and am humbled and thankful to be able to train the next generation of lawyers who will fight for justice and continue to open doors for others,” he said. “As I tell my students, I would not (be) able to stand in the front of the classroom were it not for the lawyers who assisted their clients in breaking down barriers.” 

Steele graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and has practiced law in Cape Girardeau for more than 50 years. He has served on The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Council, the Board of Governors, and The Bar Plan Board of Directors. He also received the Lon O. Hocker Award for trial advocacy in 1977.  

Steele said he is honored to receive the Spurgeon Smithson Award and encouraged fellow bar members to continue broadening their legal knowledge. 

“Despite being in an age of increasing specialization, I would still urge young lawyers to familiarize themselves with multiple areas of practice,” he said. “I also urge them to involve themselves and give time to bar-related activities for the betterment of the profession.” 

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar Foundation. 

Hon. David C. Mason and Scott S. Bethune were selected as the 2021 Missouri Bar Foundation Purcell Professionalism Award recipients.

Named after former Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown an exceptional level of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees nominate individuals for the award. The board of trustees then selects one or two award winners and presents each awardee with a $500 stipend.

Mason said he is driven to preside with fairness and assure there is an equal and accessible process for all litigants. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and has been a circuit judge for 30 years, as well as an adjunct professor with Washington University School of Law. He was the founder of the Freedom Suits Memorial, a new sculpture in downtown St. Louis that commemorates the roughly 400 slaves who petitioned Missouri courts for their freedom.

“The work of the lawyers and judges who handled the freedom suits demonstrated the highest standard of our profession: equal justice under the law. That is one reason why the Freedom Suits Memorial is so important – it is a monument to the highest values of our profession,” Mason said. “If my work as founder of this memorial led to this award, I am humbled, grateful, and committed to being the kind of judge who, by my conduct, honors the award and its namesake.”

Bethune said he is grateful to receive this year’s Purcell Professionalism Award, especially since he has looked to many of the past award recipients as legal role models. Bethune is a University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law graduate and a founding member of Kansas City law firm Davis Bethune Jones. He has also been elected by Missouri lawyers to serve on judicial commissions for the past 12 years as part of the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan.

“It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career to meet those outstanding individuals seeking a life of public service and see the quality judges that result from Missouri’s merit selection process,” Bethune said.

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar Foundation.

The Missouri Bar Foundation recently selected three lawyers for the 2021 David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Awards. This award was created by The Missouri Bar Foundation to recognize outstanding achievement in appellate practice by young lawyers practicing in the state. The award is named after the late Judge Dixon, whose tenacity, professionalism, and judicial skills exemplify superior appellate practice.

Emily Danker-Feldman, Damien de Loyola, and John C. Steffens are this year’s recipients of the David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award.

Danker-Feldman’s dedication to her work is evident in her love of words and deep empathy for individuals, especially those in the justice system. “I prefer to get people out of prison than to put them in,” she explains.

Danker-Feldman received her bachelor’s degrees in economics and English from Georgetown University and obtained a dual degree in law and social work from Washington University, where she was also President of OUTLaw, the LGBTQ*[FF1]  law student organization.

In May 2020, Danker-Feldman joined the Midwest Innocence Project as Supervising Attorney and Director of the Innocence Clinic at the University of Missouri School of Law. In her roles, she supervises the review and litigation of prospective DNA cases involving eyewitness misidentification in Missouri and teaches a Wrongful Convictions seminar course as well as leads an Innocence Clinic.

“I became a lawyer because mass incarceration, with its targeting of people of color, struck me as one of the most pressing human rights violations in the United States,” Danker-Feldman stated. “In my experience, power comes down to who must see and understand and accommodate whom, whose experience is legible and whose isn’t. People—incarcerated people, wrongfully convicted people, people with a criminal history—deserve to have their stories heard.”

Damien de Loyola grew up in Jefferson City and went on to attend the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Graduating with bachelor’s degrees in history and secondary education as well as a certificate in women’s and gender studies, he then went on to the University of Alabama, receiving a master’s degree in history, and later graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with both a law degree and a master’s degree in public administration.

Since 2012, de Loyola has been with the Missouri State Public Defender System and is the District Defender for Area 69, one of the appellate-postconviction offices in Kansas City.

De Loyola is passionate about the work he does on behalf of others. “I am primarily driven by the desire to ensure all people in this country, irrespective of how much money they have, the crimes of which they are accused, or any other factor, have their rights protected and respected,” he explains.

“I am also driven by all of my colleagues in the Missouri State Public Defender System. My office is full of smart and dedicated people who are always willing to help. It is a wonderfully collaborative and supportive environment in which to practice law.”

John C. Steffens comes from a small town in Southeast Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri for both his undergraduate degree in journalism and law school. Although he spent a few years working for a large firm in St. Louis, he chose to move closer to home in 2013.

Since that time, Steffens has been with The Limbaugh Firm in Cape Girardeau. He maintains a civil trial practice in state and federal courts in both Missouri and Illinois, focusing primarily on commercial disputes, real estate disputes and wrongful death/personal injury work for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Steffens offers the following advice to new lawyers aspiring to similar recognition, “I believe too many attorneys think appellate practice requires long briefs with numerous points and oral presentations with big, showy arguments. I think the opposite is true.”

“The judges reviewing your case are smart. They are going to understand the law. Your goal is to convince them to apply it in a certain way to your case. So, figure out the few things about your case that are most likely to convince them you are right,” Steffens explains. “That should be front and center in your brief, using as simple and direct language as possible. When you are preparing to argue your case, try and anticipate the questions you will get and prepare your answers for those questions. Some of those questions may not have even come up at the trial level. At the time of the argument, get directly to the points you have decided to make and when you are done, sit down.”

The Missouri Bar Foundation and The Missouri Bar congratulate these young lawyers on their passion and dedication to their profession. Each will receive a $750 stipend. Visit MoBar.org to learn more about annual awards and here to view a list of all past recipients of this Missouri Bar Foundation award. 

The Missouri Bar Foundation gives the Lon O. Hocker Award to three lawyers under the age of 40 who exemplify the qualities of a trial lawyer, including showing professionalism, high ethical conduct, and quick wittedness in the courtroom. The lawyers come from three areas of the state – St. Louis, Kansas City, and all other remaining counties. Established in 1954, the award is named after Lon O. Hocker, a lawyer who practiced in St. Louis for more than 50 years and was a well-respected trial lawyer. 

Force graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and now serves as Shelby County’s sole prosecuting attorney, as well as the juvenile office attorney for the 41st Circuit Court. She also owns her solo private practice, Force Law. Force said she is “completely honored” to receive the Lon O. Hocker Award and sees it as an “energizer” to continue helping her clients and community. 

“There is no better feeling than hearing the jury finds the abuser guilty and then communicating to the victim that he/she was enough; the testimony was enough; the victim was believed,” Force said. “Years after those trials, I remain in contact with some of the victims, and it is so gratifying to see them overcome their past and grow into healthy and happy adults.”  

Horneyer graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and works as a public defender with the City of St. Louis Trial Office, where he has tried, as first chair, 45 jury trials. Horneyer said he is driven by the excitement and challenges of trial work, as well as the ability to represent “the indigent against the might of the entire criminal justice system.” 

“Being recognized by The Missouri Bar Foundation for representing the indigent is a tremendous honor,” he said. “It can feel at times like a public defender's work can go unnoticed. Receiving an award such as this reminds me how important it truly is.” 

McCarther graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and is an assistant U.S. attorney in the Violent Crime & Drug Trafficking Unit with the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Western District of Missouri, where he primarily focuses on violent crimes, firearms violations, and violations of the Controlled Substance Act. In this role, he has prosecuted more than 200 criminal cases and litigated more than 20 felony trials to verdict. McCarther said receiving the Lon O. Hocker Award was a “personal aspiration” and he is honored to continue serving his community. 

“Like many others in public service, I am driven by the continuing effort to try and make a positive difference in my community,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in being from Missouri and, in particular, from Kansas City. If, at the end of my career, I have helped in some way to make Kansas City a better place for people to live and raise their families, I'll be satisfied with that.” 

The three award winners suggested lawyers continue to stretch their comfort zones and not forget why they entered the profession to begin with. 

“Remember the awesome power that a law degree holds,” Horneyer said. “Few in society have the ability to change and help people’s lives like those who hold law degrees.” 

Force, Horneyer, and McCarther join the list of notable past recipients of the award. To receive the award, which carries a $750 stipend, a lawyer must first be nominated by a member of The Missouri Bar. Nominees then complete applications, which are reviewed by a selection committee which recommends three nominees to the Trustees of the Missouri Bar Foundation. The trustees then select the award recipients.  

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar and the Missouri Bar Foundation. 

The Journal’s Editorial Board created the award in 1986 to recognize outstanding articles in the publication. The editorial board recommends an author to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, and the foundation selects the award winner. Named after the former chair of the editorial board, the award includes a $500 cash stipend. 

McCurdy’s article, “Change begins with us - elimination discrimination during jury selection,” ran in the Journal’s November-December 2020 issue. 

“As lawyers, we have a duty to protect jury selection from discrimination,” McCurdy said. “As the Supreme Court recognized the importance of a jury selected without discrimination, the Court turned to lawyers to police the process. Protecting jury selection depends on our ability to exercise that right. My hope is this article will serve as a quick refresher for the lawyer preparing for trial, and as a reminder for all lawyers that change begins with us.” 

This is McCurdy’s second time to receive the award. His previous recognition was in 2018. 

McCurdy graduated from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in Indiana and currently practices trusts and estates litigation, elder law, and civil litigation at Lashly & Baer, P.C. in St. Louis. McCurdy is a former president of the Trial Section of The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and has published other articles in the Journal over the last 12 years. 

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar and Missouri Bar Foundation. For a list of all past recipients of this award visit this link.  

The 2020 honorees for the Spurgeon Smithson Awards are Judge Robert Dowd Jr., lawyer Mira Mdivani and Judge Patrick Robb. The Spurgeon Smithson awards are made annually by The Missouri Bar Foundation to Missouri judges, teachers of law, and/or lawyers deemed to have rendered outstanding service toward the increase and dissemination of justice. 

Dowd was educated at University of Missouri-St. Louis; Quincy College and obtained his JD from St. Mary's University. After working in private practice, he was elected as a magistrate judge in 1978 and retained as an associate circuit judge in 1982. Dowd was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1994 and was chief judge from 1998-99.   

 “Service as a trial and appellate judge for 41 years allowed me to hopefully address legal issues that affect real people,” Dowd said when asked about his work. “During my time on the bench I have been involved in many committees that contributed to the administration of justice and been involved in community work as part of my obligation as an attorney and a citizen.”  

Dowd was asked what this award meant personally, noting that Robert Dowd Sr. Was selected for the same honor in 1989. 

“My father, who was my life example and mentor, also won this award, so I am humbled by having just some comparison to him,” said Dowd. “I am also grateful to be honored by my peers when I know the type of all the people who are eligible for this award.”  

Mdivani’s legal practice in Kansas City focuses on complex immigration matters, such as corporate immigration compliance and internal I-9 audits. She also defends employers in Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor investigations triggered by allegations of immigration non-compliance and helps implement talent acquisition strategies involving visas for international personnel. In addition, for more than 20 years, her firm has maintained an active pro bono practice representing immigrant women and children who have experienced domestic violence.  

The Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm was recognized in 2019 with a Pro Bono Publico Award for their work not only with clients in the Kansas City area, but also for the time the entire firm spent in Texas helping immigrant women and children prepare for asylum hearings. 

Mdivani said her dedication to public service and equal justice under the law is viewed through the lens of her history of pro bono work.  

“I am thankful to The Missouri Bar Foundation for the Spurgeon Smithson Award,” Mdivani said. “It is humbling and uplifting to be given such an honor by my peers.” 

Robb graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in political science before obtaining his JD from UMKC. He has served as a Missouri judge since 1986. Robb has been recognized for outstanding leadership by the St. Joseph YMCA and in 2017 received the Judicial Excellence Award from the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri.  

Robb’s thoughts on his accomplishments include significant pride over improving the operation of the court, especially in working collaboratively with others.  

“I served on the Supreme Court’s Committee on Procedure in Criminal Cases for a number of years, several of those as chair of the committee,” said Robb. “During that time, I worked with several outstanding lawyers and judges making recommendations to the Supreme Court on changes to court rules and jury instructions including changes to the instructions as a result of the enactment of the new Criminal Code in 2017.” 

Robb added, “When working with the law and the facts of a particular case, there are always new things to learn and understand.” 

The Spurgeon Smithson Awards were established in 1976 by bequest of Spurgeon Smithson, an outstanding Kansas City lawyer. The award includes a $2,000 stipend. Click here to learn more about The Missouri Bar’s annual awards. For a list of all past recipients of this award visit this link.  

The Missouri Bar Foundation presents Purcell Professionalism Awards each year to Missouri lawyers who have consistently demonstrated an outstanding degree of competency, integrity and civility in both professional and civic activities. The award was founded in honor of Martin J. Purcell, 1968-69 president of The Missouri Bar. This year, the foundation selected Michael D. Murphy and Allan D. Seidel for this honor.

As a trial lawyer, Murphy defends corporations and individuals in complex civil litigation. Over the past 25 years, Murphy’s trial practice includes the defense of product liability, toxic tort, medical negligence, and other actions involving alleged serious personal injuries in various venues across the country. In addition to his active litigation practice, Murphy leverages his experience as a partner at a large international law firm to counsel corporate clients and other professionals on how to avoid litigation.

“I think that there is no greater honor, and concomitantly no greater responsibility, than to have a client ask you to help them navigate the litigation process or some other legal issue confronting them,” said Murphy. “That client always deserves the very best that we have to offer, whether it is a small matter, a multi-million dollar dispute, or a court-appointed matter that a well-respected federal judge feels strongly enough about to appoint us to handle.”

Seidel attended Trenton Junior College from 1965-66 and completed his BS degree at the University of Missouri-Colombia and his JD at UMKC Law School. Following graduation, Seidel was an assistant attorney general in Jefferson City prior to returning to Trenton and joining the law firm of Miller & Humphreys. He still practices law in Trenton with the firm of Seidel, Havens & Dennis. Seidel was a member of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors from 2003-2011 representing 17 counties in Northwest Missouri.

Seidel was also recognized last December by the Missouri State Public Defender office for exceptional service. In 2019 alone, over 9,000 cases were assigned to just 360 lawyers, including Seidel. His award for excellence for defending cases in four rural circuits over the course of several years shows true dedication to the administration of justice in Missouri.

“My three terms on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors is probably the most rewarding experience professionally,” said Seidel. “My passion is to assist my clients in resolving problems, hopefully to a satisfactory conclusion, but even if we have not accomplished all they want, I have at least given them the opportunity to be heard and had their day in court.”

Click here to learn more about annual awards from state bar and Missouri Bar Foundation. View a full list of past recipients of this award here. 

The Missouri Bar Foundation has selected three young lawyers to receive the 2020 David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Awards. Zachary Bluestone, Alexander Brown and Julia Neidhardt Rives are each being recognized for their outstanding achievement in appellate practice. This honor is named for Judge Dixon, whose tenacity, professionalism and judicial skills exemplified outstanding appellate practice.  

Bluestone currently serves as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri, where he focuses on criminal appeals and the prosecution of violent crimes. Previously, as a deputy solicitor general in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, he helped manage the state’s appellate caseload. Between these two positions, Bluestone has served as lead counsel in high-stakes civil litigation and a number of criminal cases.   After graduating from Harvard Law School, Bluestone clerked for the Hon. Raymond Gruender on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in his hometown of St. Louis. Prior to law school, he earned an MBA from the University of Oxford and a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. In addition to working for the State of Missouri, he has had extensive experience in all three branches of the federal government. 

When asked about his favorite cases, Bluestone replied, “Laughlin v. Perry, which was just recently decided by the Supreme Court of Missouri, is definitely one. The Court held that Missouri public defenders are entitled to official immunity for conduct related to their representation of indigent defendants and rewrote official-immunity doctrine. I am proud to have helped ensure that public defenders are not exposed to unwarranted liability for the important work they do and to have saved taxpayers millions of dollars through reduced exposure for the State Legal Expense Fund.” 

“While I also enjoy the fast pace and unique challenges of trial work, I’m particularly drawn to appellate advocacy because it involves a deeper engagement with legal issues, greater precision, and more carefully crafted arguments,” Bluestone added. 

Brown graduated cum laude from both the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to law school, Brown spent a year volunteering as an Americorps VISTA in Kansas City helping to provide capital and education to small business entrepreneurs. 

Brown has litigated dozens of insurance coverage cases across the country on behalf of some of the largest corporations in the world. In the prime of his career, Brown made a change. While he enjoyed the sparring of his past work representing insurance carriers, he decided to switch sides to represent policyholders instead and work on behalf of people who have been wronged. 

Joining the Lathrop GPM Insurance Recovery team in 2013, Brown is one of the founders and leaders of Lathrop GPM’s Civil Rights Insurance Recovery practice which litigates §1983 civil rights claims on behalf of exonerees who were wrongfully imprisoned. In all, he has helped secure settlements in amounts well over $100 million for civil rights plaintiffs.  

“I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside innocence organizations to help wrongfully convicted clients secure compensation for what often amounts to decades of life lost in prison”, said Brown. “I am thankful to the Missouri Bar Foundation for recognizing our firm’s contribution to this cause, and I would like to dedicate my David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award to the Midwest Innocence Project.” 

Julia Neidhardt Rives grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she majored in General Agriculture and received her Bachelor of Science in 2013. After graduating, she attended the University of Missouri School of Law and graduated with honors in 2016. Rives began working for the Missouri Attorney General's Office in 2017 in the criminal appellate division.  

“Working on criminal appeals for the State of Missouri has allowed me to significantly help people in a manner that I did not imagine when I first decided to go to law school,” said Rives. “I am very honored by this award and to be a part of a team that works tirelessly every day to advocate for justice.” 

The three lawyers will receive a $750 stipend included with the David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award. Click here to learn more about The Missouri Bar’s annual awards. Click here to view of a list of all past recipients of this Missouri Bar Foundation award.  

The Missouri Bar Foundation each year presents Lon O. Hocker Awards to young Missouri lawyers who embody the qualities of a trial lawyer. Recipients are selected for recognition based on their professionalism, ethics, and demonstrated balance between zealousness and honor, strength and courtesy, and confidence and respect. The 2020 Lon O. Hocker Awards are being presented to Nathan Chapman, Audrey McCormick and Erika Wurst. 

Chapman is currently the supervisor of the Persons Unit in the Greene County Prosecutor's Office, handling cases involving physical and sexual abuse against children, adult sexual abuse, domestic assaults and child pornography. He joined the office as a senior assistant in October 2012 after receiving his JD from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2008.  

“As a courtroom advocate, I connect with juries and persuade them to discard preconceived biases,” said Chapman when asked about his driving passion for his work. “This allows me to seek justice for the most vulnerable victims in the community.” 

 McCormick is the trial team leader of the downtown Jackson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victim's Unit. McCormick earned her JD from UMKC School of Law in 2010 and began her professional career as an attorney for the Missouri Children’s Division. Since joining the prosecutor’s office in 2016, she has prosecuted child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and homicide cases.  

“Over my career I have met many amazing, resilient children who have been the victims of unspeakable trauma,” said McCormick. “My most important work is earning a child's trust after they are brought into the criminal justice system. But each time, I know I have fought my hardest for that child and hope that they, and the community, are safer because of the work I have done.” 

Erika Wurst was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas, but ultimately ended up in St. Louis for law school, by way of Minneapolis and Boston for her undergraduate degree and AmeriCorps.  She said she worried she chose the wrong career path until her first week as an intern in the St. Louis City Public Defender's Office.  

“My clients drive my passion for this work,” said Wurst. “My family made everything possible for me. Yet my clients, many of whom are more intelligent, optimistic, and hard-working than I am, have had to struggle for everything they have. There is nothing more humbling, or more motivating, than meeting a client whom society has left behind, whom the State is trying to put behind bars, and seeing a smile on their face, or hearing them express gratitude for what little I can do for them.”  

This award is named for Lon O. Hocker, who was a practicing lawyer in St. Louis for more than 50 years. Hocker was also a leading trial lawyer in Missouri. To be eligible for this award, which carries a $750 stipend, recipients must be less than 40 years old. In addition, the winners are selected from three regions in the state – St. Louis, Kansas City and all other counties.  

Click here to learn more about The Missouri Bar’s annual awards. Click here to view of a list of all past recipients of the award. 

Challis, a partner in the St. Louis office of Kirkland Woods & Martinsen, notes that, while he authored the piece before the ongoing spread of COVID-19, “the challenges brought upon all attorneys in Missouri over the past year have only highlighted the need to examine and potentially change certain aspects of Missouri law. That would include the traditional execution formalities for estate planning documents.” 

He also noted the piece has created dialogue around the topic. 

“The purpose of my article was to start a conversation, and I have been very pleased not only with the number of attorneys that have read the article but want to discuss and debate the merits of various proposals,” Challis said. “That only goes to show that the Journal of The Missouri Bar remains, as it has been for 90 years, a wonderful forum in which attorneys from across the state can not only discuss recent developments in the law, but proposals for how our laws can better serve the citizens of the State of Missouri.” 

The W. Oliver Rasch Award carries with it a cash stipend of $500 from the Missouri Bar Foundation. The award is named after the late long-time member and former chair of the editorial board, which makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for its consideration. The award is presented at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar. 

Click here to learn more about The Missouri Bar’s annual awards and see past recipients. 

Danielle Atchison has a deep commitment to pro bono work and community service. As a business immigration lawyer with the Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm she spends much of her time assisting the firm’s clients with a broad range of immigration related tasks. Beyond this, Atchison is also devoted to volunteering her services on behalf of individuals in need in the Kansas City area. 

“It is an honor to receive the Tom Cochran Award. I have met so many different people through my volunteer work in both legal organizations and through Jackson County CASA,” Atchison said. “It makes me a better person to be engaged with people of all walks of life, ages, and abilities.” 

In her work with the Mdivani Law Firm, Atchison heads up the firm’s pro bono practice serving immigrant women and children survivors of domestic violence and other violent crimes. Since 2015, she has worked with Jackson County CASA, responsible for visiting and working with abused and neglected children in the family court system. 

Atchison is also the Outreach Committee Chair for the Earl E. O'Connor Inn of Court and has been able to continue a tradition of hosting a special needs prom in Wyandotte County. Members donate time and resources so that special needs students can have a safe and fun event with their families, complete with dinner, dancing and photos.   

In recognition of her work, The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section has selected Atchison as the 2020 recipient of the Tom Cochran Community Service Award. This honor is designed to recognize a member of The Missouri Bar whose service and professionalism have enhanced his or her community. The award is named after Thomas D. Cochran (1934-1981), whose commitment and contributions to the practice of law and his community are still an inspiration to Missouri lawyers. The award rotates between St. Louis, Kansas City and outstate Missouri areas, to coincide with the location of the bar’s annual meeting.  

When asked to provide advice to other new lawyers, Atchison was quick to respond, “Get involved. Give back. Do pro bono work. As an attorney, you are uniquely situated to assist your fellow humans, find the cause you care about and make changes for the better.” 

Click here to learn more about The Missouri Bar’s annual awards. 

Three Missouri lawyers will receive Spurgeon Smithson Awards Sept. 18, 2019, during The Missouri Bar Foundation & Public Service Awards Luncheon at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Branson. Hon. Stephen Limbaugh Jr., James R. “J.R.” Hobbs and Hon. Suzanne Bocell Bradley have been selected for the honor after being deemed "to have rendered outstanding service toward the increase and diffusion of justice." 

The Missouri Bar Foundation makes the Spurgeon Smithson awards annually to Missouri judges, teachers of law, and/or lawyers.  

A member of a distinguished line of Missouri lawyers, Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. was sworn in as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri in 2008. At the time of his appointment, he was a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri, having completed 16 years of service on that Court, including a two-year term as chief justice. While a member of the Supreme Court, Limbaugh chaired the Court’s Commission on Judicial Education and co-chaired the Court’s Task Force on Children and Families. As chief justice, he served as presiding officer of the Missouri Judicial Conference and chaired the Appellate Judicial Commission of the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan. 

Judge Limbaugh is an active member of many professional, civic and charitable organizations. He is past president of The State Historical Society of Missouri and a current member of the Missouri Bicentennial Commission. Limbaugh is the first resident federal district judge in the new Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau, which is named for his grandfather. In addition to his regular duties, Limbaugh presided over the federal court system’s first Veterans Court, designed to assist criminal offenders who were honorably discharged from the military. 

James R. Hobbs is a shareholder at Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C. He has an active practice in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, criminal defense, and commercial litigation, representing both individuals and businesses. Hobbs has served on the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission and is currently a member of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness. He is also co-chair of the Court’s Task Force on Criminal Justice, which is addressing pre-trial release and bond reform, among other issues. 

Hobbs is a past recipient of the Lon O. Hocker Award which recognizes stellar young trial lawyers from the Missouri Bar Foundation and continues to serve as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. 

“I believe that every individual has a story,” said Hobbs. “Whether the case involves the prosecution of an individual or business, every ‘citizen accused’ deserves a fair process and good defense.” 

Suzanne Bocell Bradley has practiced law in St. Joseph for more than 40 years, including service as a substitute municipal judge for more than 20 year. She also served as a Missouri gaming commissioner for eight years.Bradley has been a member of The Missouri Bar since 1976 and has served as a trustee of the Missouri Bar Foundation for more than 30 years. She served two separate terms as president of the foundation and was a charter member of the Missouri Bar Foundation Fellows Program. 

In addition to her service as a municipal judge, Bradley was appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri to the Municipal Judge Education Committee, where she spent more than 20 years educating and certifying municipal judges across the state. She also taught annual ethics and case law courses in the Municipal Judge Training Course. 

The Spurgeon Smithson Awards were established in 1976 by bequest of the late Mr. Smithson, an outstanding Kansas City lawyer. The award includes a $2,000 stipend.