Alumnus Hearne Addresses Students After Special Session
- Thor Hearne discusses preparing for
appellate argument and his practice.
Law school alumnus Mark "Thor" Hearne II, JD '86, discussed his preparation and legal practice after arguing the third case of the Missouri Court of Appeals Special Session at the law school. He stressed that the practice of law is about building relationships--with clients and colleagues. Hearne and several of his colleagues also discussed developing their practice and emphasized that students should pursue an area of law that they are “passionate” about.
Hearne heads the St. Louis office of Lathrop & Gage LLP. A member of the firm since 1997, he concentrates his practice on eminent domain litigation against the federal government and serving as general counsel to families and closely held businesses. He also is a member of the President's Commission on White House Fellows.
The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District listened to oral arguments for three cases on October 27 in the law school's Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom. Hearne argued a case involving a dispute over a lease agreement with the Discovery Channel Store in Union Station. The court also heard arguments involving a personal injury claim and a domestic violence criminal case.
- Thor Hearne's colleagues from
left: Meghan Largent, JD '05;
Lindsay Brinton; and Pamela Dixon,
JD '09, provide additional commentary
to students.
The court periodically holds sessions in law schools as part of an educational program. Attorneys for the cases had approximately 15 minutes per side. A DVD of the proceedings is on temporary reserve in the law library.
The cases were:
9:30 a.m.
AP Civil Appeal Circuit
Harry Dilworth, appellant vs. City of Berkeley, respondent, and Gary Eaves, defendant
[view case summary]
[view appellant's brief]
[view appellant's reply]
[view respondent's brief]
10 a.m.
AP Criminal Appeal Circuit
State of Missouri, respondent vs. Timothy H. Garnett, appellant
[view case summary]
[view appellant's brief]
[view respondent's brief]
10:30 a.m.
AP Civil Appeal Circuit
St. Louis Union Station Holdings, Inc., appellant vs. The Discovery Channel Store, Inc., respondent
[view case summary]
[view appellant's brief]
[view appellant's reply]
[view respondent's brief]
The judges on the panels were the Hon. Robert G. Dowd, Jr., Hon. Lawrence E. Mooney, Hon. Glenn A. Norton, and Hon. Sherri B. Sullivan. After the special session, the judges answered general questions about judicial procedure, as well as judicial clerkships.
