PRESS RELEASE
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District
1300 Oak
Kansas City, MO 64106
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Terence G. Lord, Clerk of Court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District
(816) 889-3600 Fax (816) 889-3668 email tlord@courts.mo.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MISSOURI COURT OF APPEALS, WESTERN DISTRICT, TO SIT AT UNIVERSITY
OF MISSOURI SCHOOL OF LAW, COLUMBIA, MISSOURI
March 12, 2015 (Kansas City)--The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District will convene court at the
University of Missouri School of Law on Thursday, April 2, 2015, Chief Judge Alok Ahuja announced today.
A three-judge panel consisting of Mark Pfeiffer , Gary Witt and Anthony Rex Gabbert will hear oral arguments
at Hulston Hall in four cases beginning at 9:00 a.m., Ahuja said.
He explained that the cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts. The judges will hear
attorneys argue whether the trials had errors, which should cause them to be retried, or the trial court's judgment reversed,
he said. The judges will read written arguments before the court session, he added, and may interrupt the attorneys’
arguments with questions.
The three judges will recess sometime in between arguments to step down and discuss the court system and
generally explain proceedings, Ahuja said.
The School of Law has been a regular stop for the Western District when it convenes court away from its
headquarters in Kansas City. The Court has jurisdiction over appeals from trial courts in 45 counties which include all of
northwest Missouri and most of central Missouri.
Pfeiffer will preside over the proceedings in Columbia. He was appointed to the Western District in 2009.
Before his appointment, he practiced law in Springfield and later, Columbia. He lives in Columbia and is a 1991
graduate of the MU Law School. Witt was appointed to the court of appeals in 2010. Immediately prior to his
appointment, he served as an associate circuit judge in Platte County. Previously, he had practiced law in Platte County
and served in the Missouri House of Representatives. He is a 1990 graduate of the MU Law School. Gabbert is the
newest judge on the Western District, having been appointed in 2013. Before his appointment, he served as a municipal
judge, an associate circuit judge and a circuit judge in Clay County.
During the past 23 years, the Court has held sessions in Chillicothe, Clinton, Columbia, Fulton, Gallatin,
Huntsville, Independence, Jefferson City, Keytesville, Kirksville, Lexington, Liberty, Linneus, Macon, Marshall,
Maryville, Milan, Nevada, Platte City, Richmond, St. Joseph, Savannah, Trenton, Tuscumbia and Warrensburg.
"It is important for the Court to convene oral arguments outside of Kansas City," Pfeiffer said. "This gives
individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see. We hope those attending
will gain a better understanding of the Court's function.
-30-