23 April 2020

ST. LOUIS – Douglas R. Bader, who has served the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals more than 40 years, has announced his retirement effective May 1, 2020.  He was hired in 1980 as a staff attorney. He became counsel for the court in 1985 and has served as court administrator and counsel for nearly 20 years. He has worked for 36 chief judges during his long tenure at the court.

“We are very grateful for Doug’s long and faithful service to this court,” Chief Judge Colleen M. Dolan said. “We will miss his wisdom, his institutional knowledge and his sense of humor. The current and former judges of the Eastern District will be forever grateful to him.”

Prior to his court service, Bader was in private practice. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Kansas and is a graduate of the University of Illinois School Of Law.

Over the years, he has been active in The Missouri Bar; the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; the Council of Appellate Staff Attorneys, serving as president from 2000 to 2001; and the National Association of Appellate Court Attorneys. He also serves on Missouri court automation committees. 

Bader said, when he told the court last fall that he would be retiring this spring, he had no idea it would be in the middle of a pandemic. However, he said the court is continuing to conduct business processing appeals and writs and handing down opinions despite the difficult conditions. Most of the judges and staff are working remotely, and the court has held numerous arguments by teleconference.

Upon his retirement, and after it is safe to appear in public once again, Bader says he will continue to pursue his interest in historic preservation in the city of Alton and gardening, and he and his wife Gail will travel. 

Staff Counsel Joy Hannel will become the court’s chief legal counsel on May 1, 2020, and will assume additional legal, advisory, budget and fiscal responsibilities. Laura Roy will continue to serve as clerk of the court and will assume additional information technology, security, personnel and facility maintenance responsibilities. Hannel and Roy are longtime court employees, with more than 50 combined years of service to the Eastern District. Both women obtained their law degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and are active in state and local bar associations as well as professional associations. Hannel is past president of the National Association of Appellate Court Attorneys (2011-2012), and Roy is the current president of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks. 

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Contact: Laura Roy, clerk of court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District
(314) 539-4300