news

  • 30 Oct 2015 9:45 AM | Anonymous

    Thank you to the many firms who participated in this year's Skippy & Skivvies Drive. Your donations are crucial to the children and families  Operation Breakthrough serves each day. Congratulations to the Young Lawyers Section for organizing another successful drive!

     

    The FINAL 2015 numbers are as follows

    Peanut butter     31,152oz             

    Diapers                   5,978

    Wipes                     8,952

    Underwear               477

    Socks                         458

    Cash                     $9,741

     

  • 30 Jul 2015 7:43 PM | Anonymous

    Family Court Commissioner Molly Merrigan was honored with the Judge Goldstein award today at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals in National Harbor, Md. The award is in honor of the very first drug court judge in the United States, and is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the drug court field. It came on the eve of her retirement from the Jackson County Family Court after 16 years of service handling Family Drug Court matters, adoptions, and abuse and neglect cases.

    "Having been able to meet Judge Goldstein and observe him in his courtroom, I am incredibly honored to receive this award," Merrigan said.

    Merrigan announced her retirement in May and her last day on the bench is July 31. She was appointed in December 1998 by the court en banc. During her tenure, Jackson County’s Family Drug Court was nationally recognized in 2012 by the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as one of five Peer Learning Courts in the country. She has received numerous awards that recognize her work in this field including: the Claire McCaskill Award from the Missouri Association of Drug Court Professionals in 2008, and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Distinguished Board Service Award in 2008.

    "It has been my honor and privilege to serve as commissioner," Merrigan said.

    Following retirement from the Court, Merrigan will work as a consultant to other drug courts through two national organizations – the National Drug Court Institute, and Children and Family Futures.

    Prior to her appointment to the bench, Merrigan was employed with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and worked as the lead assistant prosecuting attorney handling Drug Court cases. She is also a certified substance abuse counselor, and had worked at a residential drug and alcohol treatment facility.

    Merrigan earned her law degree from the University of Missouri--Kansas City School of Law, and her bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst University.

     

     

  • 24 Jun 2015 10:14 AM | Anonymous

    LAKC's Annual Judicial Reception was held at the Chesterfield Bar on June 23rd. During the reception, LAKC Run for Justice 5K committee member Kent Erickson presented Legal Aid of Western Missouri Deputy Executive Director Alicia Johnson with a check in the amount of $3,500 from the 2015 Run for Justice. The proceeds from this annual run benefit the programs and services Legal Aid of Western Missouri provides to residents in need in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

     

  • 23 Jun 2015 5:02 PM | Anonymous

    Two new Family Court commissioners were appointed today by the judges of the Jackson County Circuit Court at its court en banc meeting. The new commissioners will replace two others who are retiring this summer.

    The Court appointed William R. Jackson III to Division 40 and Nancy Alemifar to Division 44. Both individuals have spent the majority of their legal careers working in family law.

    "We are pleased to have been able to select two commissioners from a list of five very qualified candidates," said Presiding Judge Justine E. Del Muro. "Ms. Alemifar and Mr. Jackson will be excellent additions to our court. Their experience as attorneys in Family Law will serve them well as they assume their new roles as commissioners."

    Jackson is presently serving as the Family Court’s Juvenile Officer and Director of Legal Services. He has served in that position since January 2013. Jackson joined the Family Court in 1987 and has worked as Assistant Director of Legal Services, Manager of Legal Services, and Attorney for the Juvenile Officer. He received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1982.

    "I have enjoyed working with so many wonderful people in my capacity as Juvenile Officer," Jackson said. "I am thankful to have the opportunity, as commissioner, to promote justice, family unity, and safety for children in our community."

    Jackson will assume his new position on or about September 1st. He replaces Commissioner Geoffrey Allen who was appointed in 1993. Allen is retiring August 31.

    Nancy Alemifar was appointed to Division 44. She is presently with the law firm of Husch Blackwell, where she has been employed since 1995, and serves as Senior Counsel "Pro Bono" attorney. Her experience also includes working as an Attorney for the Juvenile Officer of the Family Court from 1993 – 1995, and as a staff attorney for Legal Aid of Western Missouri from 1991 – 1993. She is a 1991 graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law.

    "I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to serve the families of Jackson County as commissioner and look forward to my new role," Alemifar said.

    Alemifar will join the Court on or about August 1st. She replaces Commissioner Molly M. Merrigan who was appointed in 1999. Merrigan is retiring on July 31.

    The commissioners will hear matters pertaining to juveniles at the Family Court Division located at 625 E. 26th Street. They were each appointed to a four year term.

     

  • 11 Jun 2015 1:29 PM | Anonymous

    LAKC-YLS is now seeking applicants for the 2015-16 YLS Board of Directors. Interested candidates should complete an application (PDF of application in post) and return to Chris Mirakian by email (chris.mirakian@gmail.com) by June 22, 2015. Elections will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at The Jacobson, 2050 Central ST, Kansas City MO 64108. Elections begin at 5:30pm.

    The Lawyers Association of Kansas City (LAKC) was founded in 1935 to promote and advance the following objectives that are just as relevant today: the welfare of the public in the greater Kansas City community; the administration of justice; the science of jurisprudence; and the cordial and professional relations among the members of the greater Kansas City Bar.

    The Young Lawyers Section of LAKC is comprised of members under 35 or who have graduated from law school within the past five years and maintain “service of public interest by advancing the role of the legal profession in serving the public” as a value.

     

     

    LAKC-YLS 2015-16 Director Application.pdf
  • 26 May 2015 9:57 AM | Anonymous

    Join us for a happy hour to celebrate another successful year and to elect our officers and directors for 2015-16.

    Thursday, May 28, 2015
    5:30-7:00pm
    The Cashew, 2000 Grand Blvd. KCMO 64108

    There is no cost to attend and no registration required.

    2015-16 Slate of officers/directors:

    Clay Norkey, President

    Brian Baggott, President-Elect

     Amy Luck, Secretary

    Dan McClain, Treasurer

     

    Catherine Bell

    Cameron Garrison

    Mike Hargens

    Brandon Henry

    Mark Iba

    Mike Judy

    Kristi Kingston

    Anne Linton Pond Hendrickson

    Lara Owens

    Lindsay Todd Perkins

    Eric Vernon

    Tim West

    Jennifer Wieman Earles

    Katie Zogleman

    Past-President: Mark Brennan

     

  • 02 Apr 2015 1:45 PM | Anonymous

    Recent events have raised concerns about how some municipal court divisions are resolving matters filed in those courts. The Supreme Court of Missouri is reviewing its rules governing certain aspects of municipal court divisions, including educational requirements for municipal judges and alleged conflicts of interest of judges and city prosecutors performing multiple tasks across multiple jurisdictions. Other interested bodies also are looking to improve municipal courts.

    The Supreme Court is seeking specific suggestions from members of the bar and others about ways to improve the rules applicable to practice in Missouri’s municipal court divisions. Please send your suggestions to the Clerk of the Supreme Court by Friday, May 1, 2015. Suggestions should be sent to P.O. Box 150, Jefferson City, MO  65102.


  • 02 Apr 2015 1:02 PM | Anonymous
    The Circuit Court of Jackson County has adopted the following revised rules effective 4/17/15:


    Rule 7.2 Duplicating Policy

    Rule 33.5 Motions, How Filed and Considered
    Rule 67.1.3 Implementation of Supreme Court Rule 33 Relating to Bail and Sureties

    Copies of the revised rule may be obtained from the Department of Civil Records in Kansas City and Independence and on the Court’s web page at www.16thcircuit.org.

  • 18 Feb 2015 2:45 PM | Anonymous

    Pursuant to the “Reappointment Policy for the Family, Probate and Drug Court Commissioners,” adopted by the Court en banc in 2005, a retention committee has been named to review Commissioner Fry’s judicial performance in order to make a recommendation to the Court en banc regarding reappointment. The committee welcomes any relevant written documentation or information regarding the Commissioner’s performance. The members of the Reappointment Committee will privately review all responses in this matter. Although some responses may be shared with other members of the bench on a need to know basis, anonymity of the respondents will be guarded.

    Please e-mail or fax your comments to Jeffrey A. Eisenbeis, Court Administrator, Circuit Court of Jackson County, no later than April 16, 2015. The fax number for Mr. Eisenbeis is 816 881-3164 and his e-mail address is Jeff.Eisenbeis@courts.mo.gov.

     

  • 19 Dec 2014 5:27 PM | Anonymous

    Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance (LEAP) is looking for local volunteer attorneys interested in its Reading Buddies program, which is set to restart this upcoming spring 2015.  The attached handout provides a general overview of the program.  In short, we are seeking attorneys willing to volunteer periodically at Operation Breakthrough from January 21, 2015 through April 29, 2015.  The volunteers will serve with a team of other volunteers, and each team will read with children at Operation Breakthrough for one hour every other week. 

    LEAP is a local not-for-profit foundation seeking to improve education in Kansas City.  LEAP's designated beneficiary is Operation Breakthrough, which serves underprivileged children in the greater Kansas City area.  Operation Breakthrough's mission is to help impoverished (and often homeless) children develop to their fullest potential.  LEAP is deeply invested with developing volunteer opportunities for attorneys at Operation Breakthrough.  If you are interested in volunteering to be a Reading Buddy this spring or have any questions, please contact one of the people listed below.

    If you are interested in becoming a Reading Buddy, or would like more information about the Reading Buddies program, please contact:  Bryant Ash (bash@theipcenter.com), Matt Sparks (matt.sparks@bryancave.com), Sam Wenger (samantha.wenger@huschblackwell.com), or Judge Sill-Rogers (chrissillandcharlierogers@gmail.com).    

     

     

News and Events

We encourage you to share your member news with us (transitions, verdicts, etc.). Submit news items to: info@lakc.net.

 


Click Here to View Our E-Newsletter Archive.
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software