Jordan Force
Jordan Force, Brian Horneyer and Jeffrey Q. McCarther received The Missouri Bar Foundation’s Lon O. Hocker Award for their exemplary qualities as trial lawyers.
The Missouri Bar Foundation gives the Lon O. Hocker Award to three lawyers under the age of 40 who exemplify the qualities of a trial lawyer, including showing professionalism, high ethical conduct, and quick wittedness in the courtroom. The lawyers come from three areas of the state – St. Louis, Kansas City and all other remaining counties. Established in 1954, the award is named after Lon O. Hocker, a lawyer who practiced in St. Louis for more than 50 years and was a well-respected trial lawyer.
Force graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and now serves as Shelby County’s sole prosecuting attorney, as well as, the juvenile office attorney for the 41st Circuit Court. She also owns her solo private practice, Force Law. Force said she is “completely honored” to receive the Lon O. Hocker Award and sees it as an “energizer” to continue helping her clients and community.
“There is no better feeling than hearing the jury finds the abuser guilty and then communicating to the victim that he/she was enough; the testimony was enough; the victim was believed,” Force said. “Years after those trials, I remain in contact with some of the victims, and it is so gratifying to see them overcome their past and grow into healthy and happy adults.”
Force, Horneyer and McCarther join the list of notable past recipients of the award. To receive the award, which carries a $750 stipend, a lawyer must first be nominated by a member of The Missouri Bar. Nominees then complete applications, which are reviewed by a selection committee which recommends three nominees to the Trustees of the Missouri Bar Foundation. The trustees then select the award recipients.
