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Recent Articles from Catherine Martin
Crossing the aisle
For a law firm filled with politically prominent lawyers — and a firm that is representing the sitting governor of Missouri on a criminal charge — Dowd Bennett is not a particularly political law firm.
Influential Lawyers-Steve Cousins
Steve Cousins has worked on some of the biggest bankruptcy cases in recent history, but 2017 was an especially big year for the Armstrong Teasdale partner. Cousins served as co-counsel in the successful emergences of two major companies from Chapter 11 — Peabody Energy, the largest private sector coal company in the world and second largest case […]
Lawyer of the Year-Richard Scherrer
As Richard Scherrer sat at his desk in the Missouri State Public Defender’s office in St. Louis, he reflected on the path his career has taken. “If you had asked me to pick the most improbable thing, I couldn’t even imagine this circumstance,” Scherrer, 70, said. Scherrer is the co-founder of the Missouri Coalition for […]
Legal Champions- Cheryl Pilate
Since the start of her career, Cheryl Pilate has always worked on innocence and death penalty cases in addition to her regular federal criminal law practice. “I’m very passionate about seeing the right thing done,” she said. “There’s nothing more intolerable in our system of justice than an innocent person being wrongfully convicted and locked […]
Legal Champions- Gerard Carmody & Ryann Carmody
Right around the time Jerry and Ryann Carmody were preparing to represent a priest at a civil trial over claims he sexually abused a minor, the movie “Spotlight” came out, Ryann Carmody remembers. The movie focused on the team at the Boston Globe that uncovered the priest abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, bringing the […]
Suit over use of psychotropic drugs in foster care proceeds
A lawsuit alleging Missouri failed to oversee the administration of powerful psychotropic medications to children in foster care will go forward following an order from a federal judge earlier this month.
Strode drawn home to head ArchCity Defenders
Blake Strode had never really planned to come back to St. Louis. Strode grew up in the area, graduating from Pattonville High School in 2005, but went out of state for college, first to the University of Arkansas, and later to Harvard Law School. He also spent time traveling as a professional tennis player. While […]
Change constant in Gardner’s first year as St. Louis Circuit Attorney
After a year on the job, one thing can be said for certain about Kim Gardner’s time as St. Louis Circuit Attorney – she has brought about change.
Jury sides with care facility in case over interpreter
A federal jury recently sided with Delmar Gardens in a case that alleged the St. Louis County care facility violated a deaf patient’s rights by not providing her with an interpreter. The plaintiff, Betsy Bates, went to Delmar Gardens North for rehabilitation four days after a hip replacement surgery, which was done due to chronic […]
Pro bone-o work
If you look closely at a display of attorney headshots on the wall at Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard, one face may give you pause or more precisely – paws.
Protest ordinance not unconstitutional, appellate court rules
The Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District ruled December 19 that a St. Louis County ordinance that makes it unlawful to interfere with police officers is not unconstitutionally overbroad or vague. The ruling upholds a trial court that found the ordinance was not unconstitutional. But plaintiffs’ attorneys said the ruling was a partial win because […]
Long campaign for new murder trial ends with guilty plea
A guilty plea from Reginald Clemons, who had long maintained his innocence and fought for a new trial, may have seemed to come out of left field to some, but experts say there could be a number of reasons why he made a deal. Clemons, 46, was convicted of the April 4, 1991 murders of […]
Latest Opinion Digests
- Criminal Law: Child Abuse-Sufficiency Of Evidence-Closing Argument
- Civil Rights: Religious Freedom-RLUIPA-Res Judicata
- Civil Practice: Res Judicata-Stop Work Order
- Immigration: Drug Conviction-Removability-Overbreadth of State Offense
- Civil Practice: Asset Forfeiture-Sanctions
- Civil Rights: Due Process-Failure to State Claim
- Probate : Revocable Trust – Amendment – Reformation
- Employer – Employee : Unpaid Commissions – At-Will Status
- Criminal Law : Post-Conviction Relief – Effectiveness Of Counsel – Conflict Of Interest
- Appellate Practice : Jurisdiction – Final Judgment
- Domestic Relations : Parenting Plan – Child Support
- Criminal Law : Post-Conviction Relief – Guilty Plea – Sentence Advice
Top stories
- Cole County prosecutor loses third Sunshine Law appeal
- Supreme Court weighs lagging symptoms in work comp case
- New accommodation rights for pregnant workers offer broad protections
- Clark named as next Eastern District chief judge
- Russell reflects on change as women take charge of Missouri’s legal system
- NCAA scores positive gender equity review from St. Louis firm
- Big improvements for Missouri bar takers | List of bar passers
- Athena Dickson named vice-president of Missouri Bar
