Mary Rhodes Russell

Mary Rhodes Russell

Supreme Court of Missouri
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Biography

Dates of judicial service:
Appointed to the Supreme Court in September 2004
Retained in office at the November 2006 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2018
Serving a two-year term as chief justice from July 2013 through June 2015
Previously served as a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, from 1995 to 2004 and as its chief judge from 1999 to 2000

Education:
Educated in Hannibal, Missouri, public schools and valedictorian of her high school graduating class
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude (majors - communications and print media), Truman State University, 1980
Juris Doctor, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, 1983, Dean's List

Prior employment:
Partner, Clayton & Rhodes Law Office, Hannibal, 1984 to 1995
Law clerk, Supreme Court of Missouri, the Honorable George Gunn, 1983 to 1984

Professional memberships and activities:
Member
The Missouri Bar, 1983 to present
Illinois Bar Association, 1984 to 1995
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2004 to present
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 1993 to present
Lawyers' Association of St. Louis, 1995 to present
Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, 2004 to present
10th Circuit Bar Association, 1983 to present
Cole County Bar Association, 2004 to present
American Bar Association, 1983 to present
National Association of Women Judges, 1995 to present
Women Lawyers Association of St. Louis, 1992 to present
Mid-Missouri Women Lawyers' Association, 2004 to present
Master, Elwood L. Thomas Inn of Court, 2006 to present
Also admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States District Court for both the Eastern and Western districts of Missouri
Volunteer judge, Lewis and Clark Middle School "truancy court," Jefferson City, 2004 to present

Professional Experience
Instructor
Missouri Judicial College, National Appellate Judges' Conference, National District Attorneys Association
Current
Judge
Supreme Court of Missouri
- Current
Appointed to the Supreme Court in September 2004 Retained in office at the November 2006 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2018 Serving a two-year term as chief justice from July 2013 through June 2015
Judge
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District
-
chief judge from 1999 to 2000
Partner
Clayton & Rhodes Law Office, Hannibal
-
Law Clerk
Supreme Court of Missouri, the Honorable George Gunn
-
Education
University of Missouri - Columbia
J.D. (1983) | Law
Honors: Dean's list
University of Missouri - Columbia Logo
Truman State University
B.A. and B.S. (1980) | Communications and Print Media
Honors: summa cum laude
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Awards
"50 Missourians You Should Know"
Ingram Law, LLC
Woman of the Year
Missouri Lawyer's Media
Women's Justice Award
The Daily Record
Woman of the Year
Women Lawyers Association of St. Louis
Citation of Merit Alumni Award
University of Missouri
Equal Justice Award
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Professional Associations
Elwood L. Thomas Inn of Court
Master
- Current
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Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Cole County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Mid-Missouri Women Lawyers' Association
Member
- Current
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Lawyers' Association of St. Louis
Member
- Current
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National Association of Women Judges
Member
- Current
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Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Member
- Current
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Women Lawyers Association of St. Louis
Member
- Current
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The Missouri Bar
Member
- Current
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10th Circuit Bar Association
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Illinois Bar Association
Member
-
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Speaking Engagements
Commencement
Truman State University, 2000 University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Law 1997 and 2005 University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Law, 2006 A.T. Still University, 2007
Websites & Blogs
Website
Supreme Court of Missouri
Website
Court biography
Contact & Map
Supreme Court of Missouri
207 West High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Telephone: (573) 751-4144