KC Reporter

Before Attorney Phyllis Norman became a commissioner on the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission, she did not realize the amount of work required and how many individuals applied to secure a spot on the panel.

“There are so many smart people out there in our community,” she said. “There will be close to 20 people applying and there are only three spots. I wish I could give it to all of them because they're all super amazing. That's what I am happy about. We have so many strong candidates here in Kansas City to fill the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission.”

The Commission is made up of five individuals. Two are elected, two are lay people appointed by the governor and one is the head of the court. Norman is one of the elected attorneys who chose to run for a slot due to her strong beliefs in diversity.

Phyllis Norman | Submitted

“What made me do it is because, at the time I was running, Teresa, who was the person before me was the only woman on the Commission and when she came off, if the other people would've won, the Commission would have been all-male and I did not want that,” she said. “There are too many women attorneys in Kansas City for the Commission to be made up of five males.”

The Commission’s merit-based, non-partisan process of selecting judges has become a national model adopted by other states. 

The way the commission fills vacancies is governed by the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, which was adopted by ballot initiative in the 1940s.

While Norman’s term expires on December 31, 2023, she hopes her presence on the Commission will inspire women attorneys to become judges in the future.

“Having women on the commission makes women want to apply because they have somebody there to fight for them and explain little things like why a woman candidate might not have as much trial experience,” she said. “What happens is when their case goes to trial, a man will step in because that's the fun part and men own the firm. I’m there to explain that there are certain things that may not be on women's resumes as much just because of the way the world works.”

Norman is an awarding-winning attorney and founding member of Norman and Graves, LLC law firm, where she practices personal injury, class action and mass tort litigation. Although she loves being an attorney, the downside is her tendency to argue too much. 

“I'm deposing my husband every night because that's how I talk all day long,” she laughs. “Every case I have is different and it feels good to get the people that I am working for taken care of because they usually go up against large insurance companies.”

The accolades Norman has received include the Thomas J. Conway award by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA), which is given to lawyers who demonstrate exceptional trial skills and the ability to be a fierce advocate while still being a good friend to opposing counsel.

Phyllis has also been named Young Lawyer of the Year, Top 40 under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers, Top 50 Missouri and Kansas Women Lawyers by Super Lawyers and many more.