Judge Mark Pfeiffer heard his first case for the Court of Appeals Western District from an unusual place - the audience. Pfeiffer, who was appointed to the court on May 6, watched a court en banc argument later that month over the conviction of a man on a child molestation charge. He was in town for the court's conference that afternoon and intended merely to be a spectator. But when the court's existing eight judges split evenly over the outcome, Pfeiffer (with the attorneys' permission) was added as a ninth judge. As he said he learned, "there are no ties at the Court of Appeals."

Tagged with: Ann Mesle Cindy Reams Martin Gary D. Witt Hal Lowenstein John Miller Joseph Dandurand Karen King Mitchell Mark Pfeiffer Missouri Court of Appeals Western District Paul Spinden Ron Holliger

An appeals court says Kansas City officials didn't provide a compelling enough reason to move four 19th century cemeteries near Kansas City International Airport. The decision, issued less than three weeks after argument, was surprisingly quick. The Missouri Court of Appeals Western District on Tuesday upheld a finding by a Platte County judge that the city of Kansas City didn't show good cause why the remains should be moved. The city had hoped to move the old graveyards so that the land could someday be developed.

Tagged with: cemeteries family cemeteries graveyards Kansas City International Airport Karen King Mitchell Missouri Court of Appeals

Karen King Mitchell, the most recent appointment to the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District, greets Judge Lisa White Hardwick on Friday at Mitchell’s informal swearing-in ceremony in Kansas City. Accompanying Mitchell was her husband, Greg Mitchell, an attorney with Brydon, Swearengen & England in Jefferson City, and their son, Sam, as well as several members of her family. Chief Judge Tom Newton promised Mitchell would start right away. Even with Mitchell's appointment, the Western District has another unfilled vacancy.

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In a move that surprised few, Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed his longtime aide, Karen King Mitchell, to the Western District Court of Appeals. Mitchell was one of three finalists for a vacancy on the Kansas City-based appellate court. That ...

Tagged with: Jay Nixon Karen King Mitchell Mark Pfeiffer Missouri Court of Appeals Western District Paul Spinden

Two circuit judges and the director of the Missouri Department of Revenue are the finalists for the second of three vacancies on the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District. The Appellate Judicial Commission on Wednesday nominated Judge Jacqueline A. Cook, ...

Tagged with: Appellate Judicial Commission Gary D. Witt Jacqueline A. Cook Karen King Mitchell Missouri Court of Appeals Western District Paul Spinden