Reflections of Missouri Chief Justice W. Brent Powell
As we near the end of another year, I want to extend heartfelt appreciation to all who make our courts – and our communities – strong, resilient, and hopeful. This season offers many ways to pause, reconnect, and reflect on the people and moments in our lives for which we are grateful. It also is a season of remembrance.
My opportunity to become a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri was borne out of tragedy – the death of Judge Richard B. Teitelman after Thanksgiving 2016. I knew “Judge Rick,” and I always marveled at his capacity to engage with anyone and everyone about anything and everything.
He may have been legally blind, but he was gifted with a vision to see people for who they were, treat them with kindness, and recall important details about their lives. The law was his passion and his life, and those in the judiciary and the legal profession became his family. He was quick to offer encouragement and acknowledge even the simplest of accomplishments. His portrait now hangs just outside the door to our main courtroom – in honor of his tradition of walking through the courtroom before oral arguments, shaking hands and saying “good morning” to everyone gathered there, lawyers and public alike.
Our backgrounds were quite different, but I share Judge Rick’s passion for the law, and I hope I too am bringing a sense of fairness and kindness to our judiciary. I appreciate the depth of perspectives I encounter in this job, and I am thankful for the spirit of collaboration among my colleagues on the bench and throughout the various committees that help us draft rules of procedure and administer the courts.
The cases we are called upon to decide are often quite difficult, but do not mistake the dispassionate approach we must adopt in doing our jobs with a lack of empathy for the people behind each case. We respect the trust Missourians have placed in their courts to resolve their legal disputes, and we know how personal every case feels to the people involved. But our sworn duty is to apply the law fairly and impartially, without regard for our own personal views. That is the most important aspect of our jobs as judges.
To the dedicated employees of our courts, thank you. Your commitment to fairness, your professionalism under pressure, and your steadfast service to the people in your communities bring real meaning to the promise of justice. Judges may be the decision-makers, but you are our front lines, the faces Missourians see most often when they come into our courthouses. We know how much we ask of you every year, and we are proud of you for continuing to rise to the occasion with integrity. My colleagues and I are grateful for your work and the spirit in which you do it.
To the people of Missouri, thank you for your trust. Our courts belong to you. Upholding constitutional principles, ensuring access to justice, and safeguarding the rule of law are solemn responsibilities we approach with humility and care. Your expectations drive us to do our best to make the courts in every community in our state as effective and efficient as we can.
In these next few weeks, please find some time to recharge and make meaningful connections. As we move into the new year, I hope we will build upon lessons we’ve learned and possibilities we’ve discovered. Let us continue working together with respect for one another, belief in our institutions, and optimism about what we can accomplish when we pool our talents in our collective pursuit of equal justice for all.
May you all find blessings in this season of hope.