Hon. Mary R. Russell
Supreme Court of Missouri Chief Justice Mary Russell is the third woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Missouri since statehood in 1821. She is a member of many legal and civic organizations, including Rotary, Episcopal Church, P.E.O., and CASA, and she is a past member of the ABA’s Council on Accreditation and Legal Education. Chief Justice Russell is the recipient of many honors and awards, including being awarded the Honorable Theodore McMillian Judicial Excellence award.
Chief Justice Russell, a seventh generation Missourian, graduated from Truman State University and the University of Missouri‐Columbia School of Law. After graduation, she was a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Missouri. She practiced law in Hannibal for 12 years until her appointment to the Court of Appeals where she served for nine years, including one year as the chief judge. Chief Justice Russell is a mentor to numerous young people and a strong supporter of civics education. She speaks frequently to students as well as community groups, helping to demystify the courts.