Jolie Justus
Encyclopedia
Jolie L. Justus is an American
lawyer
and politician
from Missouri
. A Democrat
, she is a member of the Missouri State Senate, representing the state's 10th District in Kansas City
.
where she attended Branson High School. She then went on to earn degrees at Southwest Missouri State University
in Springfield
and the University of Missouri–Kansas City
School of Law. She now works for the Kansas City law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon
, serving as Director of Pro Bono Services.
Jason Klumb
, got 30%. She was widely regarded as the most progressive candidate in the race, supporting minimum wage
increases, abortion rights and stem cell research. In the general election, she faced only nominal Republican
opposition in what is one of the state's most reliably Democratic districts. She defeated her Republican opponent Jerry Mounts by 72% to 28%. She took office in January 2007.
, she married Shonda Garrison in Iowa when that state legalized same-sex marriage in 2009. They live together in downtown Kansas City and have one daughter.
Justus was the first openly gay
member of the Missouri Senate and only the third ever publicly gay member of the Missouri General Assembly
, after Representatives Tim Van Zandt
(D-Kansas City) and Jeanette Mott Oxford
(D-St. Louis
). In the 2011–12 biennium, she serves as one of three openly LGBT legislators, alongside Mott Oxford and Rep. Mike Colona
(D-St. Louis). Her campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
. In 2009, Senator Justus was named to The Advocate
's "Forty Under 40" list, a list of forty young leaders of the LGBT community.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she is a member of the Missouri State Senate, representing the state's 10th District in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Early life and career
A lawyer by trade, she was raised in Branson, MissouriBranson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
where she attended Branson High School. She then went on to earn degrees at Southwest Missouri State University
Missouri State University
Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011...
in Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
and the University of Missouri–Kansas City
University of Missouri–Kansas City
The University of Missouri–Kansas City is a public university located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is a branch of the University of Missouri System. Its main campus is in Kansas City's Rockhill neighborhood east of the Country Club Plaza...
School of Law. She now works for the Kansas City law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP is a large U.S. law firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2008, the National Law Journal ranked the firm as the 83rd largest in the United States.-Personnel:...
, serving as Director of Pro Bono Services.
Political career
She was elected to the Senate in 2006, winning the Democratic primary election held on August 8, 2006 with 33% of the vote in a four-candidate field. Her nearest contender, former state representativeMissouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
Jason Klumb
Jason Klumb
Jason O. Klumb is the Regional Administrator of The Heartland Region of the U.S. General Services Administration. Klumb was appointed to the lead GSA's Heartland Region in February 2010.-Early life and education:...
, got 30%. She was widely regarded as the most progressive candidate in the race, supporting minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
increases, abortion rights and stem cell research. In the general election, she faced only nominal Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opposition in what is one of the state's most reliably Democratic districts. She defeated her Republican opponent Jerry Mounts by 72% to 28%. She took office in January 2007.
Personal
A lesbianLesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, she married Shonda Garrison in Iowa when that state legalized same-sex marriage in 2009. They live together in downtown Kansas City and have one daughter.
Justus was the first openly gay
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
member of the Missouri Senate and only the third ever publicly gay member of the Missouri General Assembly
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
, after Representatives Tim Van Zandt
Tim Van Zandt
Tim Van Zandt is a nurse, former accountant and former politician from the U.S. state of Missouri. A Democrat, he served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives representing Kansas City and became the first openly gay member ever elected to the Missouri General Assembly.Born in...
(D-Kansas City) and Jeanette Mott Oxford
Jeanette Mott Oxford
Jeanette Mott Oxford is an American activist and politician from the state of Missouri. She is a currently a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, representing a portion of St. Louis...
(D-St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
). In the 2011–12 biennium, she serves as one of three openly LGBT legislators, alongside Mott Oxford and Rep. Mike Colona
Mike Colona
Mike Colona is a Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Colona represents the 67th district, which is centered on the Tower Grove South area within the city of St. Louis. Colona also serves as the House Minority Whip for the 96th General Assembly.-Personal history:Mike Colona...
(D-St. Louis). Her campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
. In 2009, Senator Justus was named to The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
's "Forty Under 40" list, a list of forty young leaders of the LGBT community.
External links
- Missouri Senate - Jolie Justus official government website
- Official blog