2008 Woodie Awards
Alumnus offers local justice
Rachel Harper
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Joseph Dandurand has been the presiding judge for Johnson County since 1995 and a circuit judge for 20 years. He was born in Chicago, Ill., and in 1956, he moved to Missouri when he was in middle school.
"I was 13-years-old, so that would have been in '68," Dandurand said.
After graduating high school, he decided to further his education at Central. In 1977, he graduated from Central with a bachelor of science in Accounting and Business Administration.
Dandurand received his doctorate in jurisprudence from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law in 1980.
He joined the law firm of Rahm, Rahm and Dandurand in 1980 where he remained until he took a position with the state of Missouri.
Previous to Dandurand joining the firm it was a father-son law practice. The father decided to start his own practice in Carrollton, Mo., which left the son to keep the business running.
"I was hired right out of college to work general practice," Dandurand said. "I did a lot of different things that were very beneficial to my position now."
Despite being a "plaintiff's firm for injured people," Dandurand worked as a public defender, juvenile, school board and municipality's attorney.
He was appointed by Gov. John Ashcroft in 1986 to the position of circuit judge, the position he holds today.
"I really didn't decide to [become a judge]," Dandurand said. "The judge that was my predecessor decided to resign at the end of his term."
Dandurand was on the committee to find the next circuit judge.
"We were not overall thrilled about the candidates," Dandurand said. "There were candidates who were qualified, but the bar association was not impressed."
Members on the committee began asking Dandurand if he would run.
He had to be 30-years-old to be a judge, and at the time, he was only 29. He would turn 30 just 40 days before the election.
"The last day came, and I agreed to run," Dandurand said. "I drove down to Jeff City that day to have my name put on the ballot. On Aug. 4, 1986, I won the election."
"I was 13-years-old, so that would have been in '68," Dandurand said.
After graduating high school, he decided to further his education at Central. In 1977, he graduated from Central with a bachelor of science in Accounting and Business Administration.
Dandurand received his doctorate in jurisprudence from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law in 1980.
He joined the law firm of Rahm, Rahm and Dandurand in 1980 where he remained until he took a position with the state of Missouri.
Previous to Dandurand joining the firm it was a father-son law practice. The father decided to start his own practice in Carrollton, Mo., which left the son to keep the business running.
"I was hired right out of college to work general practice," Dandurand said. "I did a lot of different things that were very beneficial to my position now."
Despite being a "plaintiff's firm for injured people," Dandurand worked as a public defender, juvenile, school board and municipality's attorney.
He was appointed by Gov. John Ashcroft in 1986 to the position of circuit judge, the position he holds today.
"I really didn't decide to [become a judge]," Dandurand said. "The judge that was my predecessor decided to resign at the end of his term."
Dandurand was on the committee to find the next circuit judge.
"We were not overall thrilled about the candidates," Dandurand said. "There were candidates who were qualified, but the bar association was not impressed."
Members on the committee began asking Dandurand if he would run.
He had to be 30-years-old to be a judge, and at the time, he was only 29. He would turn 30 just 40 days before the election.
"The last day came, and I agreed to run," Dandurand said. "I drove down to Jeff City that day to have my name put on the ballot. On Aug. 4, 1986, I won the election."