In recognition of the attorneys or law firms who demonstrate exemplary service to low-income individuals who need legal assistance, and to encourage all attorneys to imitate their example, The Missouri Bar will be accepting nominations from the general public for the Annual Pro Bono Publico Awards.

In recognition of the vital role played by the state’s news media in improving public understanding of legal issues, The Missouri Bar is now accepting nominations for its annual Excellence in Legal Journalism Awards. We encourage members of the media to take this opportunity to shine a light on their efforts to improve public understanding of the justice system.

Missouri Bar Executive Director Sebrina Barrett this week announced the recent naming of Kent Hopper as The Missouri Bar’s new Director of Finance and Administration. Hopper assumed the role in April.

The Missouri House of Representatives advanced legislation Thursday by a vote of 150-7 to reorganize Missouri’s criminal code making it more transparent to the public. The measure, House Bill 210, is the result of four years of cooperative work of The Missouri Bar Criminal Code Revision Subcommittee comprised of experienced prosecutors and defense attorneys, as well as representatives from the judiciary and the legislature. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, will now move to the Senate where it will receive similar consideration.

A toll-free telephone number has been established at The Missouri Bar to receive requests for legal help from storm victims. Callers will be asked for a brief description of their problem or question as well as a return phone number.

Joplin High School Students Win Statewide Civics Competition It takes more than a tornado to stop the Joplin students of Mr. Keczkemethy’s high school government class. The students won this year’s statewide We the People civics competition, held in Jefferson City. His students demonstrated their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and our system of government in mock hearings, which were judged by lawyers and Missouri state judges.Typical questions the students addressed were: “How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices?” What made their accomplishment even more significant was that they had lost their library of civics books in last year’s tornado and depended on the Internet and a few texts. Students representing Joplin High School were: Laurna Alumbaugh, Siri Ancha, Robert Barr, Derek Carter, Jerad Fischer, Taylor Haddad, Brandon Holman, Julia Lewis, Taylor Mann, Lydia McAllister, Matthey O’Dell, Danielle Patrick, Ethan Ritchel, Raycee Thompson, Zackary Wages and Alexa Wilcoxon. This is the second year in a row that Joplin High School has won and will represent Missouri in the national finals in Washington, D.C., later in the spring. The Missouri Bar is the state’s sponsors of We the People. We the People is a civics education program that has been rated as one of the top 10 educational programs in the nation.

President of the Missouri Bar, Lynn Whaley Vogel, wrote an op-ed piece to the Sedlia Democrat expressing her views that Missouri's Non-Partisan Court plan does not silence the public's voice.

The Missouri Bar and The Missouri Bar Board of Govenors were deeply saddened with the passing of Carol Chazen Friedman. Missouri Bar President Lynn Whaley Vogel released the following statement. 

A legislative proposal, drafted by a specially appointed Missouri Bar committee and endorsed by the bar’s Board of Governors is expected to get significant attention from legislators during the upcoming session of the Missouri General Assembly.