After an accomplished career of working and volunteering to help Kansas City area children, women and some of the city's poorest and most underserved communities, Jolie Justus was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 2006. Since entering the Senate, she has been a leading advocate for children, reproductive rights and crime victims; and has been an outspoken supporter of educational rights for children in foster care.
Senator Justus serves on the following legislative panels:
- Progress and Development Committee, Vice-Chair
- Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
- Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee
- Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee
- Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
- Select Committee on Oversight of Federal Stimulus
- Healthy Missourians 2020 Committee
- Joint Committee on Legislative Research
- Joint Committee on MO Health Net
- Children's Trust Fund Board
- Children's Services Commission
- Court Automation Committee
Senator Justus graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. She went on to earn her juris doctorate, with distinction, from University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law.
Senator Justus is also the Director of Pro Bono Services for the law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP. Under her direction, SHB has been recognized as one of the top 100 free legal services programs in the nation. In Kansas City Jolie is a volunteer for St. Vincent's/Operation Breakthrough, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, PROMO, and Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.
During law school she served as managing editor of the UMKC Law Review, was a member of the Bench and Robe Honor Society and received the Charles E. Whittaker Award for Academic Excellence. Senator Justus is licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri.
Senator Justus lives in midtown Kansas City. A Democrat, Senator Justus represents the 10th Senatorial District, which includes much of Kansas City and the City of Grandview.