The Circuit Court of Platte County has announced Judge W. Ann Hansbrough has been honored with the Missouri Bar’s 2026 Theodore M. McMillian Judicial Excellence Award in recognition of her exceptional service, leadership and dedication to the judiciary.
The Missouri Bar presented the award during its Annual Meeting and Judicial Conference in Kansas City. It recognizes Missouri judges who demonstrate integrity, leadership, and diligence in pursuing the efficient administration of justice.
Hansbrough
For Hansbrough, the honor represents the culmination of a remarkable legal career – and more than a decade of dedicated service to the people of Platte County.
Hansbrough made history in 2014 when she became the first woman appointed to serve as a judge in Platte County. What began as a historic appointment has become a lasting legacy of service to the community. Throughout her years on the bench, Hansbrough has handled felony criminal, civil and juvenile matters and has presided over complex and significant cases, including one of the longest criminal jury trials in Platte County’s history. In 2021, she continued her service as a circuit judge for the Circuit Court of Platte County. Her work has encompassed not only deciding individual cases but also helping lead and strengthen the court system that serves the citizens of Platte County. As a member of the Missouri Circuit Court Budget Committee, Hansbrough has contributed to decisions affecting Missouri’s courts and the resources necessary to administer justice effectively. Her statewide judicial service also includes membership on the Missouri Bar Judicial Conference Executive Council and the Missouri Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Commission. Her commitment to the judiciary has always extended beyond the courtroom.
Long before she took the bench, Hansbrough established herself as a respected attorney and leader in the Kansas City legal community. During her nearly two decades with Swanson, Midgley, LLC, she became the first female partner in the firm’s 100-year history and later served as one of its managing partners. She also founded and directed the firm’s Volunteer Attorney Project, reflecting a commitment to providing legal assistance and serving people who might otherwise have difficulty accessing the legal system. After nearly three decades in private practice, Hansbrough brought that same dedication to the Platte County bench. Her professional accomplishments have been recognized throughout her career, including the 2019 Women’s Justice Award presented by Missouri Lawyers Media and peer recognition among the nation’s leading women lawyers. But those who have worked alongside Hansbrough know that her career is about more than awards and accomplishments. It is about people. It is about attorneys, court staff, litigants, families and community members who come through the courthouse doors. And it is about the responsibility judges carry every day to listen carefully, treat people with dignity, and make decisions based upon the law.
One of the most meaningful aspects of Hansbrough’s career has been her role as a trailblazer. She has often reflected on what it means to be the first woman to hold positions previously closed to women. Rather than viewing those milestones simply as personal accomplishments, she has emphasized the importance of opening doors for those who come next.
As she reflected upon receiving the Theodore M. McMillian Judicial Excellence Award, Hansbrough said: “When I reflect on my career and what this award means to me, I find myself thinking less about the titles I have held and more about the doors I have had the privilege, and sometimes the challenge, of opening.”
That sentiment captures much of what Hansbrough has brought to the Platte County judiciary. She has not simply occupied a historic place in the courthouse. She has helped create and widen a path for others to follow.
Hansbrough’s commitment to Platte County extends beyond her judicial responsibilities. Over the years, she has supported organizations and initiatives involving education, youth athletics, higher education, veterans, community development and access to justice. Her service has included leadership with Park University, the University of Missouri Alumni Association, the Platte County Bar Association, and numerous community organizations throughout the Northland. For the people of Platte County, however, perhaps her most enduring contribution is the example she has set inside the courthouse. For more than a decade, Hansbrough has brought experience, dedication and a deep sense of responsibility to the bench. She has witnessed the changing needs of the community and the justice system, while continuing to approach her work with the understanding that every case involves real people whose lives may be profoundly affected by the court’s decisions.
The Theodore M. McMillian Judicial Excellence Award is statewide recognition, but its significance is especially meaningful here at home. Judge Hansbrough’s career is part of Platte County Circuit Court history. She broke a barrier as the first woman to serve as a judge in the county, and since then has built a legacy defined by service.