Experienced and caring guidance when you need it the most.
Biography
Stuart P. Huffman graduated from Central Missouri State University with a bachelor's in science for Criminal Justice and a minor in psychology in 1997. He then went to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and graduated with a J.D. in 2000. Mr. Huffman, while in law school, was a law clerk for Wyandotte County Circuit Court in 1999 and then Jackson County Associate Court in 2000. While a law clerk, he worked directly with Judges to research legal issues and draft legal pleadings. After graduation, he desired employment where he could have the ability to try cases. After passing the bar exam in 2000, he started employment with the Missouri State Public Defender's office in 2001 at the Springfield Missouri Office. He was assigned to be in the trial division and handled all manner of misdemeanor and felony cases. His responsibilities included but were not limited to handling routine court appearances, filing motions on behalf of clients, client conferences, both in the jail and at his office trying felony and misdemeanor bench and jury trials. While at the Public Defender's office, Mr. Huffman had the opportunity to be the primary attorney for numerous felony cases.
In September of 2002, Mr. Huffman left the Public Defender's office and became an associate at the law firm of Whiteaker & Wilson P.C., located in Springfield Missouri. There, he continued to handle criminal cases ranging from traffic to murder in the first degree but also had the chance to handle civil litigation and worker's compensation cases. Mr. Huffman became a partner in 2008 and continues to operate in that capacity with Richard Davis. Over time, Mr. Huffman's practice changed to where he now handles almost exclusively criminal cases. He practices criminal defense in federal, state, and municipal courts located in Springfield Missouri and the surrounding regions. Mr. Huffman is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL). He is also a member of the National Trial Lawyer's Top 100 Lawyers and the American Society of Legal Advocates.
The Missouri Bar selected Mr. Huffman as a Lon O. Hocker Trial Advocacy Award recipient (2009). His peers have recognized him as a Missouri and Kansas Rising Star in 2011 and 2012 Missouri Superlawyer magazine. He has been ranked in the Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys every year since 2013, and in 2023 he was the recipient of the Charles Shaw Trial Advocacy Award. This award is for those who exhibit outstanding trial skills and a passion for trying cases involving the innocent accused.
Practice Areas
- Criminal Defense 95%
- Civil Litigation Defense 5%
Bar Admissions
- Missouri, 2000
- U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 2005
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 2012
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2005
Professional Associations
- Missouri Bar, Member, 2000 to Present
- American Bar Association, Member, 2000 to Present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Member, 2004 to Present
- Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL), Member, 2006 to Present
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Member, 2012 to Present
Education
- University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri
- J.D. - 2000
- University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri
- B.S. - 1997
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Criminal Justice
- Minor: Psychology
Representative Cases
- Thomas v. United States, 128 S.Ct. 2046 (2008), 2008, U.S. Supreme Court
Honors
- The Missouri Bar Lon O. Hocker Trial Advocacy Award
- Voted Missouri and Kansas Rising Star by Super Lawyer Magazine
- Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Charles Shaw Trial Advocacy Award
Past Positions
- Wyandotte County Circuit Court, and Jackson County Associate Court, Law Clerk, 1999 to 2000
- Missouri State Public Defenders Office, 2001 to 2002
Languages
- English