Awards

Each year, The Missouri Bar recognizes individuals who have helped improve the state's justice system. Many of these awards are presented at the bar's Annual Meeting. Some awards are given by other organizations but are also presented at the Annual Meeting.

Awards

Missouri Bar Awards

• The Dr. Warren H. Solomon Civic Virtue Award (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 1)
  The Dr. Warren H. Solomon Civic Virtue Award was established by The Missouri Bar Advisory Committee for Citizenship Education to recognize individuals who exemplify civic virtue and who have promoted civic virtue among Missouri’s teachers and students.
• The E.A. Richter Award for Excellence in Citizenship Education (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 1)
  The Missouri Bar Advisory Committee for Citizenship Education established the Richter Award to recognize outstanding contributions by Missouri’s teachers, administrators and schools to citizenship education efforts in the state.
• The Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award  (nominations open from May 11 - July 8)
  The Missouri Bar’s Bankruptcy Creditor-Debtor Rights Committee has established an annual award to honor the memory of Michael R. Roser. The Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award will be presented to an individual who manifests the highest standard of excellence in bankruptcy practice, who has contributed distinctively to the development and appreciation of bankruptcy law, and/or who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of bankruptcy administration or practice. (2022 Recipient - Erlene W. Krigel)
• The President's Awards
  The award is given by the president of The Missouri Bar to recognize meritorious service to the state bar. (2022 Recipients - W. Dudley McCarter and Scott Vincent)
• The Pro Bono Awards  (nominations open from June 1 - Aug. 1)
  These Missouri Bar awards acknowledge lawyers or law firms for outstanding pro bono activities. One award recipient annually is a member of the Young Lawyers' Section. (2022 Recipients - Sophia Bond, Jennifer Hargis, Kate Nolen, Scott Pierson, and Howard Smotkin)
• The Roger P. Krumm Family Law Award (nominations open from May 1 - July 1)
  The Family Law Section and The Missouri Bar present an annual award to honor a family law lawyer who has demonstrated an exceptional degree of competence, skill, integrity, commitment, and dedication toward the improvement and advancement of the practice of family law and the children and families involved in family law matters. (2022 Recipient - Karen DeLuccie)
• Theodore M. McMillian Judicial Excellence Awards
  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. (2022 Recipient - Hon. Joe Hensley)
• Legislative Awards
  The Missouri Bar Legislative Awards recognizes Missouri legislators who have made significant contributions to legislation which affects the administration of justice and the integrity of the judiciary. (2022 Recipients - Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, former Rep. Wes Rogers, Rep. Rudy Veit, and Sen. Barbara Ann Washington) 
• The James T. Britt Memorial Award  (nominations open from April 12 - Sept. 17)
  The James T. Britt Memorial Award is presented to the individual who over the years or in a pioneering manner has advanced the cause of relief and recovery for impaired attorneys in Missouri. Presented by the Missouri Lawyers Assistance Program (MOLAP). (2022 Recipient - Brent Cantor)
• Dorothy Kaiser Award (nominations open from April 12 - Sept. 17)
  This award is presented in recognition of the pioneering contributions over the years in the field of chemical dependency, recovery and continuing, compassionate care for impaired female lawyers in Missouri. Presented by the Missouri Lawyers Assistance Program (MOLAP). (2022 Recipient - Athena Dickson)
• Warren Welliver Award  (nominations open from April 12 - Sept. 17)
  This award recognizes the lawyer who best exemplified compassion and concern for impaired lawyers in Missouri during the past year. Presented by the Missouri Lawyers Assistance Program (MOLAP). (2022 Recipient - David Lurie)

Missouri Bar Foundation Awards

• The David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Awards  (nominations open from Jan. 1 - Feb. 15)
  The David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award recognizes three young lawyers who are under the age of 40 selected from different regions of the state: St. Louis, Kansas City and all other counties.. The recipients are chosen based on their performance of outstanding appellate work.  Those nominations are then sent to a selection committee of two appellate judges, a U.S. district judge and the chief justice of the Supreme Court, who makes recommendations to the Missouri Bar Foundation Trustees for final selection. (2022 Recipients - Kate Merwald, Kristen S. Johnson, and Derek Ankrom)
• The Lon O. Hocker Awards (nominations open from Jan. 1 - Feb. 15)
  The Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award is given to three trial lawyers who are under the age of 40 selected from different regions of the state: St. Louis, Kansas City and all other counties. The recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated balance between zealousness and honor, strength and courtesy, confidence and respect, as well as other professional qualities. (2022 Recipients - Christopher L. Accurso, Tim Cronin, and Philip M. Fuhrman)
• The Spurgeon Smithson Awards (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 23)
  The Spurgeon Smithson Awards honor Missourians who have shown outstanding service toward the increase and diffusion of justice. Each year, a judge, an academic and a lawyer are selected for recognition. (2022 Recipients - Hon. Fernando J. Gaitan Jr., Chuck Henson, and Alan D. Pratzel)
• Purcell Professionalism Award (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 23)
  This award acknowledges outstanding professionalism by a Missouri lawyer, who has consistently demonstrated an exceptional degree of competency, integrity and civility in both their professional and civic activities. (2022 Recipients - Dana Tippin Cutler and Doreen Dodson)
• The W. Oliver Rasch Award 
  This award is given to a lawyer who has contributed and authored the best Journal of The Missouri Bar article of the year. (2022 Recipient - Anthony Meyer)

Missouri Bar Young Lawyers' Section Awards

• The Liberty Bell Award (nominations open from Mar. 1- May 1)
  This award acknowledges a non-lawyer or non-legal organization engaged in public service activities that enhance the legal community or are dedicated to the advancement of justice. (2022 Recipient - The Timothy Foundation)
• The Tom Cochran Community Service Award (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 1)
  This award acknowledges outstanding community service activities by a lawyer.
  
  

Other Awards

• The Defender of Distinction Award
  Missouri Public Defender Commission awards a public defender who exemplifies the ideal of public defense. (2022 Recipient - Charles Hoskins)
• Prosecutor of the Year
  The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys awards a prosecutor for their service over the past year. (2022 Recipient - Kacey L. Proctor)