JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Catherine L. Hanaway was sworn in Monday at 10 a.m. as Missouri’s 45th Attorney General in a private ceremony at the Missouri Supreme Court Building. She took the oath of office on her son John’s Bible, administered by the Honorable Ginger K. Gooch, her former law partner and a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve as Missouri’s 45th Attorney General,” said Attorney General Hanaway. “I view this position as a job to fight crime, protect Missouri families, and defend the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution. My commitment is to serve Missourians by enforcing the law as written and upholding the rule of law. There is much to do, and I am ready to begin.
Catherine L. Hanaway, a seasoned trial lawyer and proven public servant, has built her career around one guiding principle: protecting Missouri families.
As Attorney General, she is committed to making the Office a force for safety and accountability. Her bold agenda focuses on fighting crime, protecting consumers, ensuring the vulnerable are safeguarded from fraud and abuse, and defending both the U.S. and Missouri Constitution. She has pledged to pursue justice for victims of violence, root out corruption, and stand against schemes that threaten Missourians’ livelihoods. For Attorney General Hanaway, the mission of the Office is simple: uphold the laws as written and protect the people of Missouri.
Attorney General Hanaway first entered public service as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, where she made history as the first and only woman elected Speaker of the House. In that role, she advanced legislation to strengthen public safety, protect Second Amendment rights, and promote government accountability, establishing her reputation as a strong defender of Missourians’ freedoms.
Attorney General Hanaway previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. She personally tried cases to jury verdicts and led the development of new prosecution strategies in complex healthcare, fraud, and white-collar crime cases. As the chief federal law enforcement officer for the region, she supervised more than 4,000 criminal and civil cases, along with a staff of more than 100 attorneys and investigators.
Before taking office, Attorney General Hanaway led Husch Blackwell LLP, a national law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers headquartered in Kansas City, as the first woman to become Chair of the firm. She built a reputation for excellence in handling high-stakes litigation, including cases involving fraud, financial misconduct, and regulatory compliance. Her leadership helped guide the firm through record growth.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Creighton University and received a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.
Attorney General Hanaway resides in St. Louis with her husband, Chris, and is a devoted mother to two children, Lucy and John. She has been deeply involved in her community through service on civic and professional boards, including serving as the Chair of the Regional Business Council and as a member of the St. Louis Regional Crime Commission Board.