The David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award was created by The Missouri Bar Foundation to recognize outstanding achievement in appellate practice by young lawyer members of The Missouri Bar. The award is named after the late Judge Dixon, whose tenacity, professionalism, and judicial skills epitomize outstanding appellate practice.
The award identifies and acknowledges those Missouri lawyers that excel in advocacy skills as observed by appellate judges within the appellate district in the State of Missouri, the Supreme Court of Missouri, and/or the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. One lawyer from each district of the Missouri Court of Appeals receives the award, which comes with a $750 stipend. The nominees must be under 40 years old on September 30 of that year.
Nominations are taken from members of The Missouri Bar starting on Jan. 1, with a deadline of Feb. 15. Additionally, qualifying Missouri lawyers may self-nominate by completing the Nomination Form. An application form is mailed to each nominee for completion and return to the Foundation by March 15. Completed applications are then sent to a selection committee of judges, which makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Bar Foundation for final selection.
The Foundation Trustees make the final decision at the Missouri Bar Foundation Board summer meeting. For more information, contact Mischa Buford Epps at The Missouri Bar.
Nomination Form
Award Winners
Learn about the 2023 recipients – Katharine P. Curry, Michael T. Raupp, and Alexandria Shah
Past Award Recipients
2022
Derek Ankrom, Springfield
Kristen Johnson, Jefferson City
Kate Merwald, Kansas City
2021
Emily Danker-Feldman, St. Louis
Damien de Loyola, Kansas City
John C. Steffens, Cape Girardeau
2020
Zachary M. Bluestone, St. Louis
Julia Neidhardt Rives, Jefferson City
Alexander T. Brown, Kansas City
2019
Nathan J. Aquino, Jefferson City
John Benton Hurst, Kansas City
Chelsea R. Mitchell, Columbia
2018
Clayton E. Gillette, Kansas City
Shaun D. Hanschen, Sikeston
Robert T. Plunkert, St. Louis
2017
Nicholas S. Beydler, Columbia
Erica L. Mynarich, Springfield
Timothy J. Reichardt, St. Louis
2016
Richard E. Finneran, St. Louis
Edward E. Keenan, Kansas City
Donald M. Brown, Bolivar
2015
Samuel E. Buffaloe, Columbia
Jennifer K. Bukowsky, Columbia
Amy E. Lowe, St. Louis
2014
Jessica M. Hathaway, St. Louis
P. Benjamin Cox, Kansas City
J. Matthew Miller, Springfield
2013
Timothy A. Garrison, Springfield
D. John Sauer, St. Louis
Thomas J. Hershewe, Kansas City
2012
Matthew M. Ward, Columbia
Roxanna A. Mason, St. Louis
Brianne N. Thomas, Kansas City
2011
Jeremy K. Brown, Joplin
Christopher O. Bauman, Clayton
Nikki Cannezzaro, Kansas City
2010
James B. Farnsworth, Jefferson City
Tim Forneris, St. Louis
Michelle R. Stewart, Kansas City
2009
Roger W. Johnson, Columbia
James (Jim) E. Meadows, Springfield
Rachel D. Schwarzlose, St. Louis
2008
Shannon A. Vahle, Springfield
Jayne T. Woods, Columbia
Marc D. McKay, Kansas City
2007
Eric J. Poggemiller, St. Joseph
Ginger K. Gooch, Springfield
Joseph F. Yeckel, St. Louis
2006
Ruth B. Sanders, Kansas City
Steven D. Rineberg, St. Louis
Michelle Boehm O’Neal, Joplin
2005
Morry S. Cole, St. Louis
Shawn D. Young, Portageville
LaSandra F. Pearl, Kansas City
2004
Andrea Mazza Follett, Jefferson City
Charles J. Dykhouse, Columbia
Scott E. Bellm, Springfield
2003
Bryan Wade, Springfield
John D. Briggs, St. Louis
Debora L. Hale, Hannibal
2002
Jason L. Call, Jefferson City
Richard L. Rollings, Jr., Ozark
Amany Ragab Hacking, St. Louis
2001
Karen Louise Kramer, Jefferson City
Deborah Dodge, Springfield
James A. Kessinger, Kansas City
2000
Stacy L. Anderson, Jefferson City
Jeffrey T. Davis, Springfield
Blaine H. Elliot, Kansas City
1999
Gregory J. Minana, St. Louis
Susan S. Jensen, Springfield
Gwenda Renee’ Robinson, St. Louis
1998
Gary E. Brotherton, Columbia
Cheryl A. Caponegro, Jefferson City
Nancy L. Vincent, St. Louis
1997
Breck K. Burgess, Jefferson City
Rebecca L. Kurz, Kansas City
Randy R. Cowherd, Springfield
1996
Kim R. Reid, Chesterfield
Susan Ford Robertson, Columbia
Rick E. Temple, Springfield
1995
W. Edward Reeves, Caruthersville
James A. Chenault, III, Jefferson City
Scott Templeton, Kirksville
1994
Craig A. Smith, Springfield
James L. Matchefts, St. Louis
Elizabeth L. Ziegler, Jefferson City
1993
John S. Rollins, Kansas City
Lisa A. Ghan, Springfield
Paul Simon, Jr., St. Louis
1992
Robert W. Cockerham, St. Louis
Elaine Drodge Koch, Kansas City
William C. Love, Springfield
1991
Jordan B. Cherrick, St. Louis
Carol Lewis Iles, Jefferson City
Sylvia K. Byrnes-Ales, Joplin
1990
Justine E. Del Muro, Kansas City
Richard L. Schnake, Springfield
Brenda L. Talent, St. Louis
1989
Leland H. Corley, Kansas City
Karen A. King, Jefferson City
Michael J. Patton, Springfield
1988
Edward J. Hanlon, St. Louis
Patrick J. Berrigan, Kansas City
John E. Price, Springfield