Shepherd administers oath of office to daughter of Lewis County judge

PALMYRA, Mo. — Judge Rachel Bringer Shepherd administered the oath of office on Oct. 17 to Autumn Westhoff, who has been admitted as a new attorney to the Missouri Bar. 

Autumn is the daughter of Fred and Reggie Westhoff and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law with a juris doctorate degree in May 2024.  Before attending law school, Autumn graduated from Truman State University in 2021 with a bachelor of science degree in political science and international relations and justice systems. She also is a graduate of Highland High School.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Marion County Courthouse in Palmyra and was attended by Autumn’s parents, her grandmother Virginia Deverger, her fiance Reece Ellis, her brother Ben Westhoff, and friends and coworkers, including Larry Brown, Dannicka Wiseman, Tessa Oilar, Jeffrey Miller, Debbie Long and Kelly Stroud.  After the ceremony, Autumn signed the registry of Marion County attorneys, contained in a large book that predates the Civil War. 

Autumn has accepted a position with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, which has an office in Hannibal. Legal Services provides free legal help in 21 Missouri counties for more than 1 million low-income individuals, families and veterans with civil issues impacting housing, family law, public benefits, consumer fraud, healthcare, children’s well-being, special education and relief from domestic violence. 

“I was very honored to administer the oath to Autumn,” Shepherd said.  “It was a special privilege because I had always enjoyed practicing law in Judge Westhoff’s court in Monticello, and our families have been neighbors for many years.”