Gary is a long time Springfield resident. His family owns a local restaurant, that is a staple of the community. He is a graduate of Kickapoo High School. He studied Political Science and International Relations at Missouri State University, graduating in 1997.
After college, he contemplated a masters degree in International Relations, but ultimately was called to his passion for law. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law, where he graduated near the top of his class, earning various awards in Property Law. He was an editorial member of the Urban Law Journal.
After graduation he worked at the Missouri Public Defender’s office, where he was able to try multiple cases from misdemeanor charges all the way up to more serious felonies. He eventually moved to private practice where he concentrated on representing individuals in a wide variety of practice areas including family law, civil law, criminal defense, and juvenile law.
Areas of Practice
- Juvenile Law 30%
- Personal Injury 20%
- Criminal Defense 20%
- Family Law 20%
- Bankruptcy 10%
Bar Admissions
- Missouri, 2002
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2002
Education
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri
- J.D.
- Honors: Dean's List
- Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
- B.S. - 1997
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Political Science
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Missouri Bar Association, Member, 2002 to Present
Past Employment Positions
- Missouri State Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender, 2002 to 2006