Mary Rhodes Russell
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Mary R. Russell is a justice on the Missouri Supreme Court. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in September 2004 by then-governor Bob Holden, a Democrat.
Russell was subsequently retained in office in the November 2006 general election for a 12-year term that expires on December 31, 2018. She previously served as a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, from 1995 to 2000 and as its chief judge from 1999 to 2000.[1]
Education
Justice Russell was educated in Hannibal, Missouri, public schools and valedictorian of her high school graduating class. She received her B.A. and B.S. summa cum laude (majors - communications and print media) from Truman State University in 1980 and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 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
- Member: The Missouri Bar (1983-present); Illinois Bar Association (1984-present); Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (2004-present); Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (1993-present); Lawyers' Association of St. Louis (1995-present); Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (2004-present); 10th Circuit Bar Association (1983-present); Cole County Bar Association (2004-present); American Bar Association (1983-present); National Association of Women Judges (1995-present); Women Lawyers Association of St. Louis (1992-present); Mid-Missouri Women Lawyers' Association (2004-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
- Commencement speaker:
- University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Law 1997 and 2005
- University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Law, 2006
- Truman State University, 2000
- High schools of Clever and Orchard Farm, 2006
- Jefferson City GED graduation, 2006
- Continuing legal education lecturer
- Instructor, Missouri Judicial College and National Appellate Judges' Conference
Civic activities
- Member, Rotary Club of Jefferson City, 2004 to present
- Member, Rotary Club of Kirkwood, 1996 to present
- Member, Blue Springs Lions Club, 2005 to present
- Member, Zonta, Jefferson City, 2006 to present
- Member, Board of Directors, Matthews-Dickey Boys' and Girls' Club, St. Louis, 2004 to present
- Member, Grace Episcopal Church, Jefferson City, 1995 to present; also serves as altar guild member, lay reader and co-chair of minister search committee
- Speaker to students and adults on Constitution Day, Jefferson City, 2005 to present
- Read to elementary students, Read Across America, 2000 to present
- Judge, We the People state finals, Jefferson City, 2005 to present
- Speaker, YMCA Youth in Government State Leadership Program. 2001, 2002 and 2005
- Speaker, American Legion Youth in Government
- Keynote speaker, Missouri Girls' State, 2002, 2003 and 2005
- Member, PEO, BW Chapter, Jefferson City, 1996 to present
- Member, University of Missouri Alumni Association
- Volunteer, Samaritan Center, Jefferson City, 2004 to present
Awards and honors
- Woman of the Year, Women Lawyers Association of St. Louis, 2003
- Henry Toll Fellow, 1997
- Citation of Merit Alumni Award, University of Missouri, 1997
- Faculty/Alumni Award, University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002
- Equal Justice Award, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, 1994 (for extraordinary efforts to provide pro bono legal services to victims of the 1993 flood)
- Citizen of the Year, Kirkwood, Missouri, 2002
- Truman State University Outstanding Alumni Award, 2003
