Courthouse Connection - Attorney Outreach - Western District of Missouri

Featured Article

Whipple Portrait Dedication

On September 11, 2009, the United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, held a Portrait Dedication Ceremony for the Honorable Dean Whipple. To begin the ceremony, Chief Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr. welcomed guests to the courthouse, including a large group of former law clerks and a strong contingent from Lebanon, Missouri. Full Story >>

Inside this Edition...

Whipple Portrait Dedication

Whitworth Selected as New Magistrate

Phillips Nominated as U.S. Attorney

Clerk’s Office – Tuesday Hours Extended

District Court Highlights

Bankruptcy Court Highlights

Probation & Pretrial Re-Entry Symposium

Federal Court Advocates

Federal Practice Committee

Clerk's Corner - Judge Tacha to Speak on Feminist Jurisprudence

Recent Court Events

Save the Date

October 21 - Judge Tacha to Speak on Feminist Jurisprudence

November 5 - Central Missouri Bar Reception

November 6 - WDMO Judges' Panel at MU Law

November 16-20th - 8th Circuit Sits in Kansas City

November 18 - Law Clerk Society Event

Archives

Whitworth Selected as New Magistrate

The Court en Banc for the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is pleased to announce that it has selected Matt J. Whitworth for appointment as a United States Magistrate Judge, subject to completion and the Court’s consideration of the required Federal Bureau of Investigation report. Full Story>>

President Obama nominates Phillips as Western District of Missouri U.S. Attorney

President Obama's nomination of Beth Phillips would make her the first woman U.S. Attorney in Kansas City once confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Beth Phillips has been prosecuting child exploitation cases since she began as an assistant U.S. Attorney in 2008. Full Story>>

Clerk’s Office – Tuesday Hours Extended for Walk-In Customers

To accommodate customers who visit the courthouse in person, the WDMO Clerk’s Office (District and Bankruptcy) will be expanding its public hours one day a week in all locations, including Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield. Full Story>>

District Court Highlights

Beginning October 13, 2009, attorneys will be able to open their own civil cases and file the case initiating documents online. This will allow cases to be filed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will eliminate the delay caused by faxing or emailing a cover sheet to the clerks and waiting for the case number. Full Story>>

Bankruptcy Court Highlights

The Bankruptcy Court is participating in a Courtroom Usage Study until December 14, 2009. Attorneys and Trustees who are first in and/or last out of a Bankruptcy Courtroom on the 6th Floor should sign in/out on the form located on the attorney table. Full Story>>

Probation & Pretrial Services Re-Entry Symposium

On Tuesday afternoon, September 22, 2009, the Probation and Pretrial Office hosted a Reentry Symposium at the Whittaker Courthouse in Kansas City for judges, U.S. Probation Officers from both sides of the state line, members of the court family, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Assistant Federal Defenders, and representatives from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Full Story>>

Federal Courts Advocates

The first formal gathering of the membership of the newly-formed Federal Court Advocates Section of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association convened on Thursday, September 10, at the U.S. Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas. The event began with a judicial panel discussion, which was focused on the ethics of e-discovery in federal court and the differences in procedures for such issues in the two Kansas City metropolitan district courts. Full Story>>

Federal Practice Committee

Brian Gaddy, with Gaddy, Geiger & Brown, was selected last month as the new chairperson for the Federal Practice Committee of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri. Denise Henning, past chairperson comments, “It has been an honor to serve as the chair of the Federal Practice Committee this last year..." Full Story>>

Clerk's Corner - Judge Tacha to Speak on Feminist Jurisprudence

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, the Court, along with the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas Women Attorneys Association will host a presentation by Judge Deanell Tacha of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Full Story>>

Recent Court Events

The United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, celebrated Constitution Day 2009 on Thursday, September 17, 2009 with a naturalization ceremony held at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. Full Story>>

About Courthouse Connection

Court Executive

Ann Thompson

Managing Editor

Lori Carr - District Operations, Western Division

Editorial Contributors

Laura Bax - District Operations, Central Division
Stephanie Brown - Finance
Beth Graham - Bankruptcy
Diana Diaz - Administration
Robin Jones - District Operations, Western Division
Kelly McIlvain - Article III Chambers Representative
Dorothy Myers - Magistrate Chambers Representative
Michele Nelson - Human Resources
Kelsee Pierce - Jury Administration
Kathy Popejoy - Human Resources
Deborah Showalter-Johnson - 8th Circuit Library
Debbie Stark - Early Assessment Program
Katie Wirt - Court Reporter

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