February 8, 2013

Missouri Bar Criminal Justice Task Force Offers Recommendations for Long-Term Solution to Provide Adequate Resources for Indigent Criminal Defense
The Missouri Bar Criminal Justice Task Force, chaired by recently retired Judge Charles Atwell, last week released a report containing eight recommendations to assure an effective criminal justice system for the people of Missouri. The Missouri Bar executive committee approved the report and recommendations. (Full Details) (Recommendations)

Applicants Sought for U.S. Magistrate Judge Vacancy
The Judicial Council of the Eighth Circuit and the Judicial Conference of the United States Committee on the Administration of the Magistrate Judges System is seeking applicants to fill a U. S. Magistrate Judge vacancy in the Eastern District of Missouri. Applications are due by March 8. (Details)

This week's cases and Supreme Court orders

Each week, The Missouri Bar provides links to all hand downs published on the Internet during the past seven days by the Supreme Court of Missouri and the Missouri Court of Appeals. The Missouri Bar has created pertinent headings and summaries for each case. This week includes 19 hand downs pertaining to:  

(All Cases)

Order Dated February 1, 2013
Re: Revisions and Withdrawals to MACH-CR and MAI-CR 3d
(Order - PDF, 8 pages)

News for Missouri Lawyers
Public Access to Federal Court Opinions Expands
The Judicial Conference has approved the national implementation of a pilot project that has been providing the public free, text-searchable, online-access to federal court opinions. All federal appellate, district and bankruptcy courts now have the capability to make their opinions available. (More)

eFiling Starts in Butler County Circuit Court
Butler County on Monday became the third circuit to begin using Missouri’s eFiling System.  Attorneys now file cases electronically in Callaway, St. Charles and Butler counties as well as in the Supreme Court of Missouri and the Missouri Court of Appeals. Jackson County will start eFiling in March. (Learn more about Missouri eFiling System)

Missouri Joins Suit Against Standard and Poor’s Alleging Fraudulent
Credit-Rating Procedures
Attorney General Chris Koster and Secretary of State Jason Kander earlier this week joined federal and state authorities seeking to hold Standard and Poor’s accountable for alleged misconduct involving the company’s rating of Mortgage-Backed Securities. (More)

News at the Bar
National Healthcare Decision Day (NHDD) is April 16
The Missouri Bar through the leadership of four key committees – Elder, Probate and Trust, Health and Hospital and Solo and Small Firm – encourage lawyers to help inspire, educate and empower the public and healthcare providers about the importance of putting advance healthcare decisions in writing. (Learn More/Tips to Get Involved) (Newly Updated Free DPOA Form) (NHDD Website)

Gov. Nixon Honors Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks on 100th Anniversary of Her Birth
Gov. Jay Nixon proclaimed Monday, February 4, as Rosa Parks Day in Missouri. A state law passed in 2006 designates that date to especially remember and honor the late Ms. Parks, who was born in 1913 and died in 2005. (More)

Have “Conversations with the Court” on February 12
Hear from and ask questions of Eighth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge William Jay Riley, Judge James B. Loken and Judge Bobby E. Shepherd and Circuit Clerk Michael Gans during “Conversations with the Court,” scheduled for February 12 in Kansas City. Admission is free, but registration is required. (Details/CLE Credit/Registration)

Do You Know a Lawyer Who Deserves Recognition for Exemplary Pro Bono Service?
Nominate Someone Today for a 2013 Pro Bono Publico Award
Take a few minutes to nominate a lawyer or a law firm for one of the four 2013 Missouri Bar Pro Bono Publico Awards. (More Details/Online Nomination Form) (Past Recipients)

Missouri Bar Foundation Seeks Nominations for 2013 Hocker and Dixon Awards
Three young lawyers will be chosen – from Kansas City, St. Louis and outstate – for 2013 Lon O. Hocker trial advocacy awards and three more for David J. Dixon awards recognizing outstanding achievement in appellate practice. Nominations are due by April 1. (Hocker Nomination Requirements/Nomination Form) (See List of Hocker Award Alumni)  (Dixon Nomination Requirements/Forms) (See List of Dixon Award Alumni)

Equal Access to Justice
Missouri Bar Is Looking for Lawyers Who Qualify for 2012 Pro Bono Wall of Fame
Take a Few Moments to Share Your Pro Bono Hours for 2012 – Deadline is March 18!
Did you provide 40 hours or more of pro bono service to low-income clients or organizations who serve the needs of low-income individuals during 2012? (Report Your 2012 Pro Bono Hours Online) (View Wall of Fame Recognition Details)

MoBar Committee/Sections "Making a Difference"
Elder Law Committee Newsletter, Winter Edition Now Online
The “fiscal cliff,” new policy memos issued by the Department of Social Services, an update on two Medicare payment policies, details about National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16, and spotlights on two committee members are featured in the committee’s latest online newsletter.  (Read Elder Law Committee Newsletter)

Tax help links
IRS Intensifies National Crackdown on Identity Theft; Part of Effort to Protect Taxpayers, Prevent Refund Fraud
Continuing a year-long enforcement push against refund fraud and identity theft, the IRS this week announced the results of a massive national sweep in recent weeks targeting identity theft suspects in 32 states and Puerto Rico. (More)

dor.mo.gov

IRS Tax Information for Tax Professionals

Newsmakers & Movemakers
Who's making news and moving where
Submit your news and moves

News from Law Schools
Glitz, Glamour, Gatsby – The Big Event Tickets Available Now
The UMKC Law Foundation and the Law Alumni Association invite all alumni for music, dinner, and a hosted bar during an evening with the law school family. Proceeds from the February 23 event will benefit travel for competition teams. (Details/Ticket/Sponsorship Opportunities)

MU: Univ. of MO School of Law
UMKC: Univ. of MO - Kansas City School of Law
Wash U.: Washington University School of Law
SLU: Saint Louis University School of Law

The Big Picture – issues and trends affecting the profession
Chemerinsky: ‘Stakes Are Enormous’ in Voting Rights Case
Source: ABA Journal
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the most important civil rights statutes in American history. The constitutionality of a crucial provision of the act—Section 5—is in doubt, and the case that challenges it, Shelby County v. Holder, will be argued before the Supreme Court on Feb. 27. (More)

The Missouri Bar Jobs for Missouri Lawyers
Search full or part-time employment listings
Search contract opportunities
Search office space/office sharing
Pro bono opportunities available throughout Missouri

Submit Openings

Non-Partisan Court Plan Judicial Vacancy News & Information Commission Seeks Applicants for Western District Appellate Vacancy
The Appellate Judicial Commission is accepting applications for judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. February 15 is the deadline for applications. (More)

• Current Vacancies
  

(Latest Details)

Letters to the Editor

Submit Letters to the Editor

Resource Reminder – available only through The Missouri Bar
2012-2013 Missouri Bar Annual Report Available Online
Within the pages of the latest Annual Report, you will find a summary of Missouri Bar activities during the past year and a look ahead at the issues, programs and services that are in focus for 2013. (Read Report Online)

2012 Missouri Courts Annual Judicial Report and Statistical Report Online
The 2012 Missouri Courts Annual Judicial Report and Annual Statistical Report are now available online. The reports provide a wealth of information about the administration of justice in Missouri and serve as excellent first resources when seeking data about the courts. (Read Report Online)

Spotlight on an Upcoming MoBarCLE Program
2013 Annual Bankruptcy Institute – Three Locations in February
Don’t miss this opportunity to add a few new shiny tools to your bankruptcy law toolbox of legal skills or to polish up on some older ones to increase your efficiency, productivity for your clients. (St. Louis) (Columbia) (Kansas City)

Next week's MoBarCLE programs

CLE Calendar

Best of CLE Course Notes
Collateral Consequences of a DWI/DUI
Prepared by  Thomas J. Erker, Erker Law Firm, P.A. (11 pages).  Originally presented at the 2012 Bernard Edelman DWI Law and Science Seminar on July 14, 2012.

For more information and tips you can use in representing your DWI clients, register now for:

Missouri DWI Law—What You Need to Know to Protect Your Client
St. Louis - March 14, 2013
Kansas City - March 22, 2013
4.5 MCLE Hours

Free MoBarCLE course materials are available at the Lawyer Resources for a Changing Economy page of our website.

MoBarCLE publications for your library
Guidebook—DWI Experts and the Science of Chemical Tests (2011)
Affordable, focused, available in a choice of formats: softbound print, download, CD-ROM.
Take advantage of the affordable pricing: $39 each; $59 for print plus either electronic format!
Purchase this MoBarCLE Publication Online

Deskbook—Estate Planning (3rd ed. 2009)
View Excerpt from Chapter 1 - "The Client Planning Conference" (PDF Format - 11 pages)
Purchase this MoBarCLE Publication Online

MoBarCLE Deskbooks Are Available Electronically through Fastcase, LexisNexis and Loislaw

www.fastcase.com

www.lexisnexis.com

www.loislaw.com

In Memoriam
January, 2013