Friday, June 27, 2008 - Kansas City Business Journal (Steve Vockrodt Staff Writer)

Stewart finds way back to practicing law

Tom Stewart will join fast-growing litigation law firm Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC.

The former CEO of Lathrop & Gage LC will split time between practicing law with Baker Sterchi and continuing some of his business development and consulting work for CBIZ Inc. as an independent contractor.

"I finally figured out I liked being a lawyer," Stewart said.

Members of Baker Sterchi's three-person executive committee said they expect that hiring Stewart will help the firm raise its profile in the Kansas City area.

Inmate granted DNA test after 23 years behind barss

The Daily Record - Charles Emerick

06/25/2008

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law Dean Ellen Suni stands in her office shortly after winning a Missouri Supreme Court decision ordering DNA testing for a man in prison since 1985. Photo by Scott Lauck

Supreme Court hands second win to UMKC Law School dean

Huntley Ruff claims he’s served more than two decades behind bars for a rape he didn’t commit.

But now with some help from Ellen Suni, dean of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Ruff finally has a chance to prove whether he really is innocent.

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that DNA taken from the scene of the alleged rape be tested. The decision reversed a trial court ruling, which denied Ruff a hearing on his motion for testing.

“I’m pleased that the court understands that inmates are not going to write perfect pleadings and you have to be flexible with what they present,” Suni said. “And I’m particularly pleased that it appears they ordered the testing itself. That makes it a little easier for the next go-around.”

Suni added that the next step is to secure the evidence from the government. Students with the school’s Innocence Project will help Suni line up the testing and the lab....(full story)

6/25/08

Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference ♦ 111 South Tenth Street - Suite 26.325 ♦ St. Louis, MO 63102

THERE’S STILL TIME . . .REGISTER NOW THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL CONFERENCE

CHICAGO – AUGUST 13-15, 2008

The 2008 Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference will take place at the Chicago Marriott Downtown

Magnificent Mile Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, August 13-15, 2008. The conference is a joint meeting of the lawyers and judges, all of whom are encouraged to register now.

On Wednesday, August 13, 2008, the Conference offers something new and unique. Five

educational programs will be available especially designed for federal practitioners. Attendees will be able to choose to attend up to three of the following one-hour long programs:

“E-Discovery 202"
“Speaking the Truth About Voir Dire”
“White Collar Crimes 101 for the Civil Practitioner, or When to Push the Panic Button (and What That Button Looks Like)”
“Practical Tips, Traps and Procedure in Daubert Practice”
“The Sting of the Lash: An Evaluation of Judicial Sanctions in the Eighth Circuit”

Visit the Judicial Conference website at https://www.ce8.uscourts.gov/judconf2008 for details of

these lawyer-designed CLE programs which qualify for credit in your state(s). The general sessions on Thursday, August 14, and Friday, August 15, 2008, will include a number of distinguished speakers, including a multimedia presentation describing the constitutional importance of Cooper v. Aaron and its relationship to Marbury v. Madison; Stanford Professor Pamela Karlan and Northwestern Professor Steve Calabresi presenting, "Original Intent, the Living Constitution, and How to Think about Constitutional Cases"; Janus Capital’s Landon Rowland discussing the Rule of Law and the impact of U.S. Courts on American business; and Touro Law Center Professor Jeffrey Brandon Morris reviewing the history of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals from its birth in 1866. Justice Samuel A. Alito,

Jr., of the United States Supreme Court will address the Conference on Friday. For reservation information, please call the circuit executive’s office at 314-244-2600 or e-mail JudConf@ca8.uscourts.gov . Lawyers may also register on-line at https://www.ce8.uscourts.gov/judconf2008 .

6/4/08

Western District appeals court to hold arguments at Missouri Boys and Girls State

KANSAS CITY – The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District will convene court at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri on Friday, June 20, 2008 and Monday, June 23,2008, Chief Judge Victor C. Howard announced today. The June 20 session will be held in conjunction with Missouri Boys State and will take place at Hendricks Hall on the CMSU campus beginning at 9:30 a.m. The June 23 session will be held in conjunction with Missouri Girls State and will also take place at Hendricks Hall beginning at 2:45 p.m.

A three-judge panel consisting of Judge James M. Smart, Judge Alok Ahuja and Missouri Supreme Court Judge Michael Wolff will hear oral argument at the Missouri Boys State session. A second three-judge panel consisting of Western District Judge Lisa White Hardwick, Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Laura D. Stith and Circuit Judge Jacqueline Cook will hear oral argument at the Missouri Girls State session.

Howard explained that the cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts. The judges will hear attorneys argue whether the trials had errors which should cause them to be retried, or the trial court's judgment reversed, he said. The judges will read written arguments before the court session, he added, and may interrupt the attorneys’ arguments with questions.

Missouri Boys State is sponsored by the American Legion and Missouri Girls state is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. They exist to teach the fundamentals of citizenship, government and politics to the brightest high school juniors in the state. Participants learn first hand the inner workings of the three branches of state government—the executive, the legislative and the judicial.

The upcoming sessions will be the third consecutive appearances of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District at Boys and Girls State. The Court convenes regularly in Kansas City. However, during the past sixteen years, the Court has also held sessions in Chillicothe, Clinton, Columbia, Fulton, Gallatin, Huntsville, Independence, Jefferson City, Kirksville, Lexington, Liberty, Linneus, Macon, Marshall, Maryville, Moberly, Nevada, Platte City, Richmond, Saint Joseph, Savannah, Trenton, Tuscumbia and Warrensburg.

"It is important for the Court to convene oral arguments outside of Kansas City," Howard said. "This gives individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see. We hope those attending will gain a better understanding of the Court's function.

For additional information, please contact Terence Lord, Clerk of the Court, by telephone at (816) 889-3600, or by e-mail at tlord@courts.mo.gov .

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - 4:22 PM CDT

Shook Hardy's Dods dies at 74

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

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Shook Hardy's Dods dies at 74