Circuit Judge

2008

Judge Mesle was appointed to the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County in November 2000. Her undergraduate degree, a bachelor of arts in history and political science, was obtained from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She received her juris doctorate, with distinction, from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Before her appointment to the circuit court, Judge Mesle was a partner in the law firm of Lathrop & Gage, L.C., where her practice focused on litigation. Judge Mesle had also previously been a member of the legal department of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.

Prior to and after her appointment to the bench, Judge Mesle has been very involved in community, educational, and organized bar activities, including, president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association in 1996, president of the UMKC Law Foundation from 1994 to 1996, Master of The Inn of Court since approximately 2003, member of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Board of Trustees from 1998 to the present, member of the Park University Board of Trustees from 1998 to the present, and a member of the Diastole-Hospital Hill, Inc. Board of Trustees from 1998 to the present.

Judge Mesle was evaluated by attorneys who appeared in court before her. Attorneys rated judges in 16 separate categories on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best rating. The attorney ratings for Judge Mesle included: 4.47 on displays fairness and impartiality toward each side of the case; 4.59 on treats people equally regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, economic status or any other factor; 4.57 on demonstrates appropriate demeanor on bench; 4.37 on understands rules of procedure and evidence; 4.37on weighs all evidence fairly and impartially before rendering a decision; and 4.36 on is competent in the law.