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.

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Missouri Bar awards

  • Diversity Champion – Lawyers of Color Award (nominations open from April 10 - May 15)
    This award recognizes a Missouri lawyer who demonstrates a true commitment to inclusion and achieves gains toward increasing the retention, advancement, and promotion of lawyers of color. (2023 Recipient - Hon. Jerri Zhang)
  • 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)
  • 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.
  • 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 lawyers in Missouri. Presented by the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program (MOLAP). (2022 Recipient - Brent Cantor)
  • 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
  • Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award (nominations open from May 1 - July 8)
    The Missouri Bar’s former Commercial Law Committee (now the Financial Services & Insolvency Law 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. (2023 Recipient - Michael A. Becker)
  • President's Awards
    The award is given by the president of The Missouri Bar to recognize meritorious service to the state bar. (2023 Recipients - Hon. Jeff Bates, Melinda Bentley, David W. Ransin, and Catherine Nelson Zacharias)
  • Pro Bono Awards (nominations open from May 1 - June 15)
    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. (2023 Recipients - Chris Dunn, Emily Elam, Ben Faber, Kathleen Irish, and Dale Roberts | List of all past Pro Bono Award recipients )
  • 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. (2023 Recipient - Mary Kay O'Malley)
  • 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. (2023 Recipients - Hon. Anthony Rex Gabbert and Hon. Elizabeth Byrne Hogan)
  • 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.
  • 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

Missouri Bar Young Lawyers' Section awards

Awards presented by other organizations

  • Defender of Distinction Award
    Missouri Public Defender Commission awards a public defender who exemplifies the ideal of public defense. (2023 Recipient - Kevin O'Brien)
  • Prosecutor of the Year
    The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys awards a prosecutor for their service over the past year. (2023 Recipient - Annie Gibson)