Missouri Bar Foundation and Public Service Awards Luncheon

2023 Awardees

Congratulations to our 2023 awardees on their significant and outstanding accomplishments!

Defender of Distinction | Prosecutor of the Year | Liberty Bell | Tom Cochran | W. Oliver Rasch | Lon O. Hocker | David J. DixonPurcell Professionalism | Spurgeon Smithson | Diversity Champion | President's

Defender of Distinction Award
Kevin O'Brien
Missouri State Public Defender System

Prosecutor of the Year Award
Annie Gibson
Daviess County Prosecuting Attorney's Office

Liberty Bell Award
Shelly Land
Consumer Protection Unit of the Missouri Attorney General's Office

Tom Cochran Award
Keegan Tinney
Dreyer & Tinney

W. Oliver Rasch Award
Dr. Isaac Amon
Director of Academic Research
Jewish Heritage Alliance

Lon O. Hocker Awards
Jessica Caldera
Harper, Evans, Wade & Netemeyer

Craig Schlapprizzi
Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law

David Wiegert
Missouri State Public Defender System

David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award
Katharine P. Curry
Missouri State Public Defender System

Michael T. Raupp
Husch Blackwell

Alexandria Shah
22nd Judicial Circuit Court

Purcell Professionalism Awards
Lisa A. Weixelman
Polsinelli Law Firm

Raymond E. Williams
Williams Law Offices

Spurgeon Smithson Awards
Hon. Patricia Breckenridge
Supreme Court of Missouri

Hon. George W. Draper III
Supreme Court of Missouri (retired)

Paul N. Venker
Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Diversity Champion Award
Hon. Jerri J. Zhang
16th Judicial Circuit Court

President's Awards
Hon. Jeff Bates
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District

Melinda J. Bentley
Office of Legal Ethics Counsel

David W. Ransin
Ransin Injury Law

Catherine Nelson Zacharias
Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator