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Judge Rob Mayer Administers Oath to Jon-Sawyer C. Smith at Stoddard County Courthouse
April 18th 2021 by Dee Loflin
Judge Rob Mayer Administers Oath to Jon-Sawyer C. Smith at Stoddard County Courthouse

Dexter, MO - Dexter native Jon-Sawyer C. Smith took the oath of admission during a swearing in ceremony by 35th Circuit Judge Rob Mayer who administered the oath at the Stoddard County Courthouse on Friday, April 16, 2021 at precisely 3:00 p.m.  Smith recently passed his bar and is officially a member of the Missouri Bar Association.  He will now practice in Dexter at the Mayer Law Office.

Jon-Sawyer C. Smith is a Dexter native and graduated from DHS in 2010.  He is the son of Pam and Kip Smith of Dexter and is married to Leeza Edmundson of Poplar Bluff  this past September.  Leeza graduated from nursing school at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2019 and is an RN, BSN in the emergency room at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.  She is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Maryville University in St. Louis and plans for a career in medical aesthetics as a Nurse Practitioner.   In the days to come, Sawyer looks forward to spending lots of time together with family.  He is also a proud lifetime supporter of the National Rifle Association and enjoys "church-going" in both Stoddard and Butler Counties.  His other interests include, but are not limited to his pets, the arts, hunting/fishing, public speaking, and traveling.

"Sawyer" Smith received academic and athletic scholarships to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida where he graduated in 2014 earning a Bachelor Science - Finance degree.  During his time at PBA, he played baseball under Coach Gary Carter (MLB Hall of Fame '03), and interned with U.S. Congressman Allen West (R) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R).  He also founded and led the Young Americans for Freedom chapter on campus; and was awarded the University's "Lead By Example'' recognition by the school president.  For roughly one year thereafter, Sawyer worked in the Washington D.C. metro area, at The Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, and on college campuses throughout the country on behalf of Young Americans Foundation to advance conservative thoughts and values as a program officer. 

In 2017, Sawyer completed graduate school in Waco, Texas earning a Master Arts - Journalism degree from Baylor University.  While at BU, he worked as a freelance political reporter / writer / videographer and also as a teaching assistant to his department professors.  Sawyer's interview-article titled 'American Sniper - Widow Enters GOP Political Arena,' which featured Taya Kyle (widow of slain Navy Seal Chris Kyle), was published and circulated by Newsmax Magazine.  In 2020, Sawyer finished law school and earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi.  While at MC, he served as Federalist Society president and focused his studies in the practice areas of criminal, civil, and constitutional law.  Sawyer gained legal experience during law school working inside the Missouri State Public Defender's Office and alongside his late father-in-law, Poplar Bluff attorney, Jasper Edmundson.

Now, a decade later, Sawyer has returned home to his roots in the Southeast Missouri Bootheel.  Sawyer was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2021 and is authorized by the Missouri Supreme Court to practice law.  He is an Associate of Dustin L. Mayer - Managing Partner at Mayer Law Office in Dexter.  His areas of practice include criminal defense, plaintiff's personal injury, estate planning, business law, and family law.  Sawyer also belongs in membership to the American Bar Association and American Agricultural Law Association.  In the near future, Sawyer plans to travel to Jefferson City to be sworn for admittance into the Bar for the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri.

"In middle school, I became infatuated with reading John Grisham novels.  I read them all in short order.  I actually came home from school one day and told my parents that I wanted to be a lawyer.  They made me write it down on notebook paper and we still have it today.  That was 15 or more years ago.  The evidence shows that my accomplishment is shared with my mom and dad.  They deserve credit for my story being possible."

"My legal career actually began in high school when Rob Mayer allowed me to answer the phone and file some papers as a part-time job at his law office.  I was observing him and also John Ringer and Brad Jarrell.  It's interesting how things have come full-circle with me going to work now for Dustin Mayer and then Judge Mayer swearing me in, here, over a decade later.  In fact, Mrs. Nancy Mayer was my fourth grade teacher.  Our families just have a lot of history and I'm so grateful to all the Mayers."

"I met my wife Leeza in early 2017 and I enrolled in law school that summer.  I knew from our first date that she would be the one.  And I was right about that.  She has stood with me through my hardest challenges in life.  The lowest of lows and the highest of highs.  I attribute a lot of whatever success I've had in recent years, to her.  We are so happy being newly-weds and pursuing our dreams together."

"I simply love my community, my state, and my country.  And I will serve them all with ethics and zeal in the legal profession.  May God always bless our nation and keep the U.S. Constitution the law of our land."

"More than anything, Jesus Christ is my strength.  I am completed by his grace and I will honor him forever the best that I can."

Amos 5:24 "Let Justice Roll!"


Last Updated on April 18th 2021 by Dee Loflin




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