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Missouri Supreme Court clerk Betsy Ledgerwood named Woman of the Year
Betsy Ledgerwood, clerk of the Missouri Supreme Court, is named 2026 Woman of the Year, highlighting her leadership across Missouri’s judiciary.
Corpoate: Rachael M. Dockery
Rachael Dockery comes from a family of ministers and teachers and said "service and education have always been core values in my life" — a commitment reflected across roughly 12 years as in-house counsel for Missouri State University.
Corporate: Jennifer Hannah
Jennifer Hannah began in private practice as a litigator before becoming a partner at a law firm, where she served on the executive committee for eight years and led the litigation division.
Corporate: Meghan E. Lewis
Meghan Lewis began her legal career at a Kansas City law firm in May 2014, building a practice in complex civil commercial and tort litigation for clients ranging from small family businesses to Fortune 100 companies.
Corporate: Christina Moore
Christina Moore now serves as an attorney at Saint Louis University where she earned her law degree.
General practitioner: Shannon Dawson
Shannon Dawson opened her own personal injury litigation practice immediately upon graduating law school, forgoing outside employment to launch what has grown into an 11-year firm.
General Practitioner: Joan M. Swartz
Joan Swartz launched her own firm more than 20 years ago with a singular focus: delivering high-quality legal services in a small-office environment.
Innovation & Technology: Shelli Clarkston
Shelli Clarkston spent approximately 12 years in banking before law school — working from teller to compliance and retail operations management — and channeled that experience into a career spent building legal and compliance programs from the ground up.
Innovation & Technology: Jennifer Hoekel
Jennifer Hoekel began her legal career with a clerkship before the Honorable Ann Covington of the Supreme Court of Missouri.
Innovation & Technology: Jill Harper
Jill Harper is a plaintiff's litigation attorney who co-founded Focus, a legal technology platform designed to give attorneys structured jury-style feedback before trial.
Leaders of Tomorrow: Faith Kathleen Whatley-Blaine
Faith Kathleen Whatley-Blaine grew up in North St. Louis County, where a 2013 encounter with a homeless man inspired her to found 1 Day 1 Meal 1 Love.
Leaders of Tomorrow: Mackenzie Anne Collett
Mackenzie Collett is a second-year law student whose public interest work spans trial, appellate and civil rights contexts.
Latest Opinion Digests
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- Criminal Law-Post-Conviction Relief-Abandonment Inquiry
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Top stories
- Missouri Supreme Court upholds 2025 congressional redistricting map
- Missouri Supreme Court weighs if new Congressional map must be suspended pending referendum
- 2026 Reader Rankings winners
- Missouri attorneys navigate increase in challenging UTV & ATV crashes
- Lacking explanation for delay, default judgment can’t be set aside
- Eastern District affirms lower court in employment discrimination case
- COA declines to enforce settlement agreement due to disputed terms
- Missouri Court of Appeals Southern District unveils Burrell portrait
