Today at 3:00 p.m., Jalilah Otto will officially be sworn in
as Associate Circuit Judge in the
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri. It will all happen at the downtown Jackson
County Courthouse. The room will be packed with fellow attorneys, current
judges, and many who have worked with or for Judge Otto, over the years. But
while all the formal proceedings are being carried out, the Judge will be
reflecting on how she arrived at her “big dream” stage in life. How did it all
happen? What made it happen? Who assisted? Where did it all begin?
Of course, the questions deserve a much deeper analysis than
this space will permit. But quickly, the Judge notes that Louis and Amelia
Chilcoat, her parents and physician-sister have been the most solid influences
in her life. Being thirty six and one of the youngest judges ever selected, the
Judge reflects on her many experiences and exposures at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, way back
in the mid-nineties. She remembers the career days and the early trips to
nearby universities and the constant barrage of encouragement she received from
her “amazing teachers.” Of course, she was an excellent student and easily
coached…but those early days were crucial in getting her to the coveted
judicial bench, she will occupy starting today.
But there’s more to the Judge, than just her educational and
parental “head start.”
Anyone who knows Judge Otto knows that she exists in “hard
work.” That coupled with an unmatched tenacity, the Judge has as good a
reputation as anyone can possibly have. Starting out as a judicial law clerk
for Missouri Appellate Court Judge, Lisa White Hardwick, this young Judge has
excelled everywhere she has gone. As an Assistant Prosecutor and as a Special Assistant to the United
States Attorney, she has drawn difficult and involved cases. After uniquely
applying herself, she quickly found herself back at Jackson County…this time,
in 2013 as Chief Trial Assistant, reporting only to the Jackson County Prosecutor.
All of this happened in a short twelve year period. But through it all, her
superiors and colleagues knew that “today” would eventually arrive for her..
Her broad level of local, state, and federal judicial experiences have assisted
her in this journey, not to mention her unrelenting daily support from her
attorney-husband, Jon Otto.. But there’s even more.
Finally, this “native daughter” has shared her story, in
more ways than can be placed on a resume. Long before this day was likely, she
could be observed escorting young aspiring teenagers throughout the courtrooms
at Jackson County. And it was not uncommon to hear her tutor the young
panelists on the popular radio show, Generation Rap. More important, she has
appeared before many community groups, explaining in detail the complex
judicial process. And at other times, she has been observed, mentoring young
professionals and younger attorneys in
their aspiring quests. Anyone knowing Judge Otto knows that she will keep on
“living out her youthful experiences”. But constantly driving home the point
that public school can produce gifted and talented contributors.
But today at 3:00 p.m., many of us will be saluting her and
we will all rise…when someone says….”all rise”.
They’ll be talking about one of Kansas City’s own, Judge Jalilah Otto.
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