Booker Shaw Honored as Legal Legend

During a ceremony on March 29th, Booker T. Shaw was among 30 lawyers and judges inducted into the Mound City Bar Association’s (MCBA) Legal Legends Hall of Fame. 

Judge Shaw was honored by the MCBA for his distinguished service to the legal profession and to the St. Louis metropolitan community, and as a role model and mentor for law students and young attorneys. The MCBA established the Legal Legends award to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the St. Louis legal profession and have been historical supporters of African American community.

Prior to joining Thompson Coburn in 2009, Judge Shaw served as a judge with the Missouri Court of Appeals for seven years, eventually rising to Chief Judge in 2006. While on the appellate bench he authored and participated in numerous opinions, in a variety of cases, ranging from medical negligence and nuisance/sovereign immunity to commercial transactions, contracts, and personal injury. He also served as a Special Visiting Judge of the Missouri Supreme Court, and was a trial judge in the 22^nd Judicial Circuit, from 1983 until 2002. In addition to his decades of public service as a distinguished jurist, Judge Shaw continues to give back to the legal profession as a mentor and teacher. Shaw believes that good lawyers should be mentors, and encourages his mentees to do the same – encourage the next generation of attorneys.

A friend of many at Thompson Coburn, Frankie Muse Freeman was also honored posthumously, as the Special Awardee of the event.