HOUSE TAPS JEFFERSON CITY LAWYER IN MORIARTY TRIAL

When articles of impeachment are presented to the Missouri Supreme Court, the attorney representing the House of Representatives will be Mark Richardson.

That is likely to cause some confusion because Mark Richardson, a lawyer, was one of five House members on a special impeachment committee. But the committee's attorney before the court will not be Rep. Mark Richardson of Poplar Bluff, but Mark A. Richardson, a Jefferson City attorney.

"There is a long history of us being confused by people," Rep. Richardson said.

It would be illegal for the House to hire one of its members as an attorney.

But the state representative expects a lot of eyebrows will be raised when the trial begins until people make the distinction.

"I made the motion for the committee to hire him," Rep. Richardson said. "He is a very good lawyer."

The representative said he made sure that throughout the entire process "we referred to Rep. Richardson or lawyer Richardson. Several people noted that I am a lawyer also, but I told them as it pertains to impeachment proceedings and my role I am a representative only."