James R. Layton
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page has appointed Tueth Keeney’s Jim Layton to the St. Louis County Charter Commission. In 2018, St. Louis County voters chose to have the Commission review the current County Charter and proposing either a new charter or amendments. The Commission must finish its work by the end of 2019.
At Tueth Keeney, Jim has represented county officials before the Missouri appellate courts. While at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, he handled various matters in trial and appellate courts relating to how county charters interact with the State’s statutes and constitution.
James Layton leads the firm’s Appellate practice group and is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation, Labor, and Education groups. He assists clients with analysis and presentation of complex legal issues in Missouri and federal courts, both trial and appellate. In addition to handling cases himself and with other attorneys at Tueth Keeney, Jim consults with clients on appellate strategy and assists other counsel in high-stakes, complex appeals.
Jim has briefed and argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and before all Missouri appellate courts””including more than 90 cases before the Missouri Supreme Court. He has represented clients in U.S. district courts and in Missouri circuit courts from Jackson County to the City of St. Louis. He has extensive experience with government-related litigation and state taxation disputes. Jim is a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a past president of the Bar Association of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and a past chair of the American Bar Association’s Council of Appellate Lawyers. He is a frequent speaker in the areas of appellate practice and constitutional law, both state and federal.