GALLERY: 2014 Women’s Justice Awards

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell accepts her award as Women of the Year. She called on everyone to give back to their communities.

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell accepts her award as Women of the Year Thursday night.

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell listens to her introduction from Justice Laura Denvir Stith, a former Woman of the Year.

Judge Catherine Perry, on right, congratulates Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell on being Women of the Year.

Deborah Dodge, on left, and Stacey Naeger, on right, high five while talking with Alice Conway. Dodge was honored for her litigation practice and Conway in the Enterprise category.

Women's Justice Award honorees and past recipients mingle at the cocktail reception before the awards ceremony. Judge Barbara Wallace, in striped dress, chats with retired judge Ann Covington. Cindy Parres Dillard and Mary Winter Doerhoff chat on right.

Women's Justice Award honoree Alice Conway is introduced to Judge Mary Russell by fellow honoree Sherrill Rosen, on left, as "my friend from preschool." Rosen was honored in the Public Official category and Conway for Enterprise.

Women's Justice Award honoree Nicole Pleasant, on right, talks with her best friend and fellow Saint Louis University Law Student Umo Ironbar at the cocktail reception.

Women's Justice Award honoree Jennifer Gille Bacon surrounds herself with Woman of the Year alumni Doreen Dodson and Judge Laura Denvir Stith.

Women's Justice Award honoree Jeanne Philips-Roth, on right, stands with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's Courtney Simms.

Past Women's Justice Award honoree Carrie Hermeling speaks with Missouri Supreme Court Judges Richard Teitelman and Zel Fischer.

Honoree Elaine Spearman, second from right, talks with friends, including Court Commissioner Anne-Marie Clarke.

Women's Justice Award honoree Sarah Brown and her son. Brown was honored for her work as a litigation practitioner.

Women's Justice Award honorees Sherrill Rosen, Alice Conway and Mary Russell gather with former honoree Ann Covington.

Women's Justice Award honoree Beverly Weber speaks with other guests of the Women's Justice Awards. Weber was named a "rising star" by Missouri Lawyers Media.

Women's Justice Award honorees Theresa Kenney, Judge Barbara Wallace, and Judge Gayle Crane chat. Kenney was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Media in the Public Service category and Wallace and Crane in the Public Official category.

Women's Justice Award honorees Sarah Pleban and Jennie Clarke. Pleban was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Media in the Public Service category and Clarke in the Enterprise category.

Women's Justice Award honoree Shelly Rosenfelder laughs with Missouri Supreme Court Judge Zel Fischer. Rosenfelder was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Media as a "Leader of Tomorrow."

Women's Justice Award honoree Shelly Rosenfelder introduces herself to fellow honoree Dana Tippin Cutler. Rosenfelder was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Media as a "Leader of Tomorrow" and Tippin Cutler for her litigation practice. On right is Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's Courtney Simms.

Women's Justice Award honoree Sarah Pleban and her children at the 16th annual Women's Justice Awards. Pleban was recognized in the Public Service category for her work as a guardian ad litem.

Women's Justice Award honoree Penni Groves and her family. Groves was recognized in the Enterprise category for her work as general counsel for Missouri State University.

Women's Justice Award honoree Cindy Dillard Parres and her father, attorney Howard Dillard. Parres was recognized in the Enterprise category for her work as general counsel for Houlihan's Restaurant.

Women's Justice Award honoree Loretta Haggard, center, looks on as past recipient Nicole Colbert-Botchway, on left, introduces herself to Natalie Teague, on right. Haggard was recognized in the Litigation category for her work at Schuchat, Cook & Werner, where Teague also works.

Women's Justice Award honoree Pamela Meanes, on left, chats with Judge Angela Turner Quigless and Serena Wilson-Griffin. Meanes was recognized in the Litigation category for her work at Thompson Coburn.

Women's Justice Award honoree Judge Kathy Surratt-States, center, with her family. Surratt-States was honored for her work as a Public Official.