Meet Bill

Our court is part of our community

I’m Bill Ellis and I’m running for Associate Circuit Judge in Division 9 because as a lifelong resident of Boone County, I believe our courts should be a place where justice means not only holding people accountable for their actions but also providing them the opportunity to move forward.

Bill in High School

I’m proud to have grown up here in Boone County. I’m a Shepard Boulevard Stallion, Jefferson Junior Cyclone, Hickman Kewpie, and Missouri Tiger. From kindergarten all the way through law school at Mizzou, this community shaped me. It’s where my family and friends live, where I built my legal career and try to give back, and where I met my partner, Kim, and where we’ve made our life.

I’ve spent many years in and around our courts, starting from my early days prior to law school when I worked as a deputy juvenile officer for Boone and Callaway Counties. That job gave me a crash course in the kinds of challenges people in our community face, but it also taught me the importance of hope and accountability, and that people can change when given the opportunity and support to do so. Those same lessons guide me today. Whether it’s a criminal, probate, civil, or family law case, or my work in juvenile court where I regularly represent youth alleged to have broken the law or serve as a Guardian ad Litem advocating for abused and neglected children, I’ve learned that the law has the power to change people’s lives and futures.

Bill on the courthouse steps

I’ve spent my entire career using the law to help people from Boone County through some of the most crucial moments of their lives. As a lawyer, I’ve helped people adopt a child, stop abusing drugs or alcohol, start a business, or safely escape an abusive relationship. In my nearly 25 years as an attorney, I’ve seen the full range of what the legal system can do. Sure, sometimes it has to hold people accountable because that’s what’s needed for everyone to move forward. But sometimes, the right conversation with someone who is appearing in court to answer for a terrible choice they’ve made is enough to give that person hope for a better future, and sometimes hope for a better future is all a person needs to decide not to make the same bad choice again. That’s why I’m running for Associate Circuit Judge. I want to keep making that difference by bringing fairness, empathy, and common sense to the bench, and to help strengthen Boone County one case at a time.

Bill teaching civics at Boys & Girls State

Outside of my law practice, I’ve always believed in giving back. I’ve volunteered with Missouri Boys State and Missouri Girls State for almost twenty years, teaching young people about leadership, government, and civic responsibility. I also serve on the Missouri State Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, helping shape policy for youth and families across the state.

And when I’m not in court, you can probably find me cheering for the Royals or the Tigers, or catching a band at Rose Park, or spending time with friends at Flat Branch because for me, Boone County isn’t just where I work. It’s home.