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2015 Women's Justice Awards

May 6, 2015

GALLERY: Event Photos, WJA 2015

  To order photos, contact Johnny Aguirre at [email protected]. View photos of the honorees with their awards here. Save

May 1, 2015

Video: 2015 Women’s Justice Awards

Woman of the Year: Virginia Fry 2015 Women’s Justice Awards Honorees

Apr 30, 2015

Letter from the Publisher

NOTE from the publisher: 2015 Women’s Justice Awards issouri Lawyers Weekly, for the 17th year, celebrates the success of women in the legal profession with our Women’s Justice Awards. It is with great privilege that we pay tribute to these 38 exceptional women. Those you read about in the profiles on these pages are committed […]

Apr 30, 2015

Woman of the Year: Virginia L. Fry

‘It just worked out that way’ How hard work and an unassuming attitude built a litigator

Apr 30, 2015

The Litigation Practitioner Award: Lucy T. Unger

Lucy T. Unger recently stepped down after six years as the managing partner of St. Louis-based Williams Venker & Sanders. As a trial lawyer, she handles commercial litigation, products liability, healthcare and medical malpractice cases. She also served on The Missouri Bar’s Joint Commission on Women in the Profession and has written extensively about the […]

Apr 30, 2015

The Public Official Award: Edith Messina

Edith Messina, appointed in 1984 as the first female circuit judge on the Jackson County Circuit Court, retired from the bench in late 2014. But she wasn’t quite done with public service; earlier this year, she began working part-time as a special advisor to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, where she is tasked with attorney […]

Apr 30, 2015

The Public Official Award: Sue Chrisman

Sue Chrisman was appointed family court commissioner in the Springfield-based circuit court in 2007. Amid emotional and stressful family litigation, she brings humor and compassion to help the parties achieve a fair outcome. What are some of your proudest career accomplishments? My proudest career accomplishment since I have been a family court commissioner is initially […]

Apr 30, 2015

The Public Official Award: Judge Lisa Page

Judge Lisa Page, a native of Festus, took office in 2007 as Jefferson County’s first female circuit judge. She was recently named as one of three finalists to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District. What are some of your proudest career accomplishments?  Graduating from law school in the first place! […]

Apr 30, 2015

The Public Official Award: Anne-Marie Clarke

Anne-Marie Clarke, currently family court commissioner of the St. Louis Circuit Court, has been a trailblazer throughout her career. Among many other roles, she was the first black woman to serve on the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. What are some of your proudest career accomplishments? I was nominated to serve on the Board […]

Apr 30, 2015

The Public Service Practitioner Award: Teresa Hensley

Teresa Hensley served for 10 years as the elected Cass County prosecutor, where she helped build coalitions to address problems ranging from drunken driving and domestic violence to fire prevention. She is now back in private practice. What are some of your proudest career accomplishments? As the elected Cass County Prosecutor, I am very proud […]

Apr 30, 2015

The Public Service Practitioner Award: Wendy E. Garrison

Wendy E. Garrison is a public defender in Springfield, where the joy of winning a fair resolution for her clients mixes with the strain of a heavy workload and the occasional anxiety of defending people she believes are truly not guilty and who stand to lose everything if she can’t help them. What inspired you […]

Apr 30, 2015

The Public Service Practitioner Award: Laurie Hauber

Laurie Hauber has worked on community and economic development issues across the country, helping start-up businesses face address the legal issues that can be the difference between success and failure. Now she’s brought that talent to St. Louis, where she’s set up a program through Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. What are some of your […]

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