SMBA Members Honored at Judicial Conference

At an annual ceremony honoring service to Missouri and the state’s judiciary, five judges, two lawyers and eight legislators were honored for their contributions to protecting and improving the effective administration of justice in Missouri. The ceremony was held Thursday morning, September 15, 2022, as part of the annual meeting of the Judicial Conference of Missouri, the organization of all the state’s judges, in Springfield.

Chief Justice Paul Wilson presented five chief justice awards to recognize individuals “who serve the judiciary diligently and with integrity, who lead by example, and who help to provide the citizens of Missouri with the quality of justice they demand and deserve.”

Receiving the civic education award was SMBA member and 31^st Circuit Judge Jason Brown.  Judge Brown is the former chair of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s civic education committee. Wilson praised Brown’s “tireless” work, “energetic leadership and valuable new insight ... in his passionate pursuit” to “enhance the public’s understanding of the role Missouri’s courts play and the fair and impartial justice we seek to provide.”

Missouri Bar President John Grimm  presented the Theodore McMillian Judicial Excellence Award to SMBA member and 29^th Circuit Judge Joseph Hensley. The award recognizes jurists who, by virtue of their integrity, leadership and diligence in the pursuit of the efficient administration of justice, inspire other members of the judiciary to similar noble purpose.

Supreme Court of Missouri Judge Zel M. Fischer – president of the National Courts and Sciences Institute – recognized the six Missouri judges who were part of a group of 64 judges nationally who have been certified as science and technology resource judges with a specialization in health care outcomes research evidence related to the case management and evidence adjudication of issues emanating from the COVID pandemic. Those certified from Missouri included SMBA member and Presiding Judge of the 31^st Circuit Judge Michael Cordonnier.