Biography

Family Court Commissioner Katie A. Rooney oversees the Jackson County Family Court’s Treatment Program in addition to other dockets that involve juveniles and their families. Commissioner Rooney was appointed to Division 41 by the Judges of the Jackson County Circuit Court at a meeting of the Court en Banc on February 19, 2021.  

At the time of her appointment, Commissioner Rooney served as Counsel with the law firm of Lathrop GPM, where she litigated most of the family court appointments assigned to the firm. She represented parents in termination of parental rights cases, and cases involving allegations of abuse and neglect. She was also appointed to represent juveniles in delinquency matters and to serve as Guardian ad Litem in family court and domestic matters. 

Prior to joining the law firm in 2016, Commissioner Rooney was an attorney for the Juvenile Officer in Jackson County from 2006-2016. In that position, she represented the Juvenile Officer in abuse and neglect proceedings, termination of parental rights proceedings, and delinquency matters. She also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office in Springfield, Missouri from 2005-2006. 

Commissioner Rooney obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2001, and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law in 2004.   

She is actively involved in legal and civic organizations in the community. She serves on the board of directors of the Child Abuse Prevention Association and the Children’s Emergency Fund. She is also a member of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, the National Association of Counsel for Children, and the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City.