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Melissa Taylor Standridge

Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge

appointed 2020

Justice

Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court after serving nearly 13 years on the Court of Appeals. She previously was a private practice attorney and counsel to two federal judges.

 

Current term

January 2023–January 2026

Appointed to court 2020

 

Judicial experience

2020-present, justice, Supreme Court

2008-2020, judge, Court of Appeals

 

Previous professional experience

1999-2008, chambers counsel, U.S. District Magistrate Judge David Waxse, U.S. District Court of Kansas

1995-1999, associate attorney, Shook, Hardy & Bacon

1993-1995, chambers counsel, U.S. District Judge Elmo Hunter, U.S. District Court of Western Missouri

 

Education

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1993

  • Editor-in-chief, UMKC Law Review

  • Chief justice, Appellate Advocacy Program

  • UMKC Law School Faculty Hiring Committee

  • Teaching assistant

  • Clark Boardman Callaghan Award, Exemplary Third-Year Student

University of Kansas, B.S., business administration, 1984

 

Professional memberships and activities

Kansas Board of Law Examiners

Kansas Bar Association

  • Board of Governors, district representative

  • Co-chair, Federal and State Jurisdiction Committee

  • Chair and founding member, Diversity Committee

Kansas Bar Foundation

  • Annual Ethics for Good presenter

Kansas Women Attorney Association

Earl E. O'Connor American Inns of Court

  • President

  • Chair, Mentoring Committee

  • Chair, Membership Committee

Johnson County Bar Association

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

Lawyers Association of Kansas City

  • Student Mediation Project coordinator

Shook, Hardy & Bacon

  • Chair and founding member, Pro Bono Committee

  • Chair and founding member, Diversity Committee

 

Awards and honors

Carol Foreman Medal of Civility, Kansas Women Attorneys Association

Diversity Award, Kansas Bar Association

Angel in Adoption, 3rd Congressional District, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute

Kansas City Legal Leaders of the Year Award, The Daily Record

Public Service Award, Law Foundation, UMKC School of Law

Tierra Farrow Community Leadership Award, UMKC Women Law Student Association

Sandra Day O'Connor Award for Professional Service, American Inns of Court

Outstanding Service Award, Kansas Bar Association

 

Community, civic, and charitable activities

Foster and adoptive parent

Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Big Sister

Foster Adopt Connect volunteer

Kansas Foster and Adoptive Children Scholarship Fund, volunteer attorney

reStart volunteer

Ronald McDonald House volunteer

Habitat for Humanity volunteer

Harvesters food bank volunteer

Meals on Wheels delivery volunteer

Alternative Care Grievance Board, Department of Social Services, chair

Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish Committee, vice chair, Board of Directors

Myasthenia Gravis Association, Kansas City chapter, secretary

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