Highlights
NAME: Patrick W. Peters. |
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LEGAL EXPERIENCE: The Early Years. Patrick Peters was born in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in Independence, Kansas City, and Lake Tapawingo. His mom and dad (Margo & Bill) passed in 1996. His father was Judge William J. Peters, a Circuit Judge in Division 16 in Independence, Missouri. He attended grade school at Nativity B.V.M. and St. Peter's and graduated from O'Hara High School. Upon graduation from high school, he attended the University of Missouri - Columbia where he was president of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He graduated from the University of Missouri - Kansas City with a degree in economics before attending law school. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Pat owned a sound and lighting company and worked as a disc-jockey in several Kansas City nightspots, including Fanny's, Eyes, Dirty Sally's and America's Pub. Family; travel (Italy, France, Ireland, Israel, Hawaii, Bermuda, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, etc.); computers & the internet; reading; snorkel/SCUBA; skiing; the Plaza; downtown; music (especially dance music). |
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Patrick W. Peters Biography
Patrick W. Peters graduated from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law School in 1985, where he was a published member of the UMKC Law Review. During law school, he authored a law review case note on juror death qualification in capital cases, and co-wrote an amicus brief on the issue with UMKC Law School Dean Robert Popper for the United States Supreme Court.
Upon graduation, Mr. Peters began working as an Assistant Jackson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney. Within one month of joining the Prosecutor's Office he successfully prosecuted his first murder trial. Due to his extensive research on jury selection in capital cases, he handled jury selection and the penalty phase in his first capital case seven months later, in State of Missouri v. William Jones. During the eight years he served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, he handled over one hundred homicide cases and tried many of the high profile cases during that time, including seven death penalty cases. He developed a unique style of jury selection that actively involved the prospective jurors, and was again published in the UMKC Law Review on capital trial jury selection.
In 1992, Mr. Peters ran as the Republican candidate (unsuccessfully) for Jackson County
Prosecuting Attorney against Claire McCaskill. After leaving the prosecutor's office in 1993, he began computer programming and developed a number of relational database programs for case management, drug court, bad checks and litigation support. In 1995-96 he served as the Deputy Attorney General of Kansas for the Criminal Division before starting his private criminal defense practice.
Shortly after entering private criminal practice, Mr. Peters was appointed in federal death penalty litigation and represented a defendant in the firefighters explosion case. Since entering private practice, Mr. Peters has continued to handle major felony cases throughout the Midwest, with cases in Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, and Kentucky. He has tried a great many cases in state and federal court, including murder, robbery, assault, rape, drug offenses, white collar crime, perjury, various drug offenses, sex offenses, and weapons charges. Mr. Peters represents many clients pre-charging, working with the agents, police and prosecutors to avoid charges being filed.
Mr. Peters has received the highest peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell (A/V, 5/5) and has been selected for Super Lawyers Magazine as one of the best criminal lawyers in Missouri and Kansas in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Pat Peters is married to Shelley Peters and they have a great son, Joe. They live at an area lake, enjoy lake activities and love to travel.
