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Susan E. Block

St. Louis, Missouri Attorney

Phone:  314-244-3640


Location:  Clayton, Missouri
Fax:  314-727-2101

Susan Block returned to the practice of law after retiring as a Circuit Judge in 2004, with 25 years of judicial service. In her last judicial assignment she was appointed to serve as the Administrative Judge of the Family Court with the authority to manage the policies and practices of this division, while maintaining a full caseload of abuse, neglect, delinquency and adoption matters. Recipient of the Andrew Jackson Higgins Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice, her work in the area of family law and child advocacy has been recognized locally and internationally. Currently, she focuses her practice in family law matters, including divorce, modifications, juvenile, guardianships, school law, juvenile law, adoptions, paternity matters, grandparents’ visitation requests, and domestic partnership conflicts.

The unique combination of having been on both sides of the bench makes Judge Block an invaluable resource to her clients and her colleagues. Since becoming an active trial lawyer, she has quickly built a reputation as a compassionate and zealous advocate for her clients, taking on the most complex cases and thinking “out of the box” for creative solutions and impressive results.

Judge Block has received numerous local awards for her work in child advocacy, prevention of domestic violence, and innovative programming for the Family Court. They include the St. Louis Bar Foundation Award, Missouri Coalition for Domestic Violence-St. Louis Region Person of the Year Award, Public Citizen of the Year award given by the National Association of Social Workers Missouri Chapter, Metropolitan St. Louis YWCA Racial Justice Award, CASA Community Award, World of Children Award, National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section Founder’s Award and was honored by the Missouri Supreme Court for her outstanding service to the St. Louis County Circuit Court.

An innovator and visionary, she was a founding member of the Washington University Project for Children and Youth, 2002-2005, and served on the first Board of Directors for the National Truancy Prevention Association and Lawyers for Equality. Judge Block was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to its Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, juvenile sub-committee, with a special focus on referrals to the court and alternative to detention and commitments to the Department of Youth Services.

Well published, Judge Block authors the “Bench to Bar” monthly column for theSt. Louis Lawyer magazine published by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Recently, she co-authored “Grandparent Visitation Rights: History, Constitutionality, and Practice,” in the April 2009 St. Louis Bar Journal. Following her presentation at the First International Conference on Domestic Violence in Rome, Italy, she wrote “Domestic Violence: A Problem Concealed. A Civil Response to Domestic Violence in the United States,” California Western School of Law, Journal of Law, 1997. She has been a contributing writer for the St. LouisPost-Dispatch on Family Law Issues from 1997-2003, authoring “In Search of Safety Coordination Efforts.”

Judge Block’s teaching experience ranges from law school instruction to international forums. She has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington University, St. Louis University and Emory University Schools of Law, specializing in pre-trial practice, trial practice, and trial technique courses. She has been sent abroad by the United States Department of State to instruct and advise countries on domestic violence laws and procedures, including the countries of Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, and Russia. Locally she has given presentations on family law to the United States Arbitration and Mediation, Inc., the American Jewish Congress, and the Midwest School of Paralegal Studies. She was a veteran faculty member of the Missouri Judicial College and the National Judicial College. In addition, she provided private tutoring for law graduates preparing to take the Missouri Bar Examination in all areas of the law.

Judge Block’s community involvement ranges from having served on the boards of Food Outreach, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Caring for Kids, the Missouri Children’s Service Commission, the National Association of Women Judges and the St. Louis County Domestic Violence Council. Most recently, Governor Jay Nixon appointed her to serve on the board of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, which seeks to prevent child abuse and educate the community on this important issue.

Judge Block is a graduate of Penn State University and the St. Louis University School of Law. She was also a participant in the John F Kennedy School of Government for Senior Executives in Local Government. She is the mother of four children and the grandmother of four. Her colleagues view her as a lawyer’s lawyer and often seek out her advice in dealing with the Family Court.

Recent Posts by Susan Block

March 8, 2023 in Juvenile Court, Susan Block Featured

What To Do When Your Child Is Suspended From School?

By Susan Block Getting a call from a school principal informing you that your child has been suspended from school…
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July 13, 2022 in Child Custody, Juvenile Court, Susan Block Featured

​What is a Protective Custody Hearing?

By Susan Block A person suspects a child is being abused. They call the child abuse hotline. The Missouri Children’s…
Read More
October 4, 2021 in Announcements, Recent News, Susan Block Featured

Missouri Lawyers Media has chosen Susan Block as its 2021 Woman of the Year.

Block is an active member of the family and juvenile law bar, drawing on skills honed on both sides of…
Read More

Areas of Practice

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri, 1975
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 2004

Education

  • Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
    • J.D. – 1975
  • Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
    • B.A. – 1965

Published Works

  • Bench to Bar, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Lawyer, Monthly, 2004 to Present, 2009
  • Grandparents Visitation Rights: History, Constitutionality & Practice, St. Louis Bar Journal, April, 2009
  • Domestic Violence: A Problem Concealed: “A Civil Response to Domestic Violence in the United States”, California Western School of Law, Journal of Law, 1997
  • In Search of Safety Coordination Efforts, St. Louis Post Dispatch on Family Law Issues, 2003

Classes/Seminars

  • Business Development, Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C., 2008
  • Criminal Procedure, Center for International Legal Studies, 2008
  • Trial Practice, Emory School of Law, 2007
  • Ethics, American Arbitration Association, 2005
  • Domestic Violence Issues, United States State Department, 2004
  • Emerging Family Law Issues, United States Arbitration and Mediation, 2009

Honors and Awards

  • The Power List POWER30 attorneys in Family Law by Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2020
  • Selected as Vital Voice Editor’s Lawyer Choice awardee in 2015 “Voice Your Choice”
  • Included in Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers
  • Named one of the ten best family lawyers in Missouri by American Registry
  • Washington University School of Law Phoebe W. Cousins Award, 1980
  • St. Louis Bar Foundation Award, 2004
  • Missouri Coalition for Domestic Violence-St. Louis Region Person of the Year Award, 1995
  • Public Citizen of the Year-National Association of Social Workers Award, 2000
  • Metropolitan St. Louis YWCA Racial Justice Award
  • CASA Community Award
  • World of Children Award, 2002
  • National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section Founder’s Award
  • The Prestigious MJJA Andrew Jackson Higgins Excellence in Juvenile Justice Award, 2003
  • Outstanding Leader Award – Governmental Leadership, 2001
  • Equal Justice Award, 1990
  • Women Lawyers Association of Greater St. Louis – Award for Service and Leadership, 1992
  • Missouri Coalition of Childrens Agencies – Child Advocate of the Year Award, 2001

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Lawyers for Equality, Vice President, 2005 – 2009
  • Children’s Trust Fund, Board Member, 2009 – Present
  • St. Louis County Domestic Violence Council, Chair, 1998 – 2004
  • Missouri Children’s Services Commission, Commission Member, 1998 – 2004
  • Women’s Justice Awards, Selection Committee Member, 1998 – Present
  • National Association of Women Judges, Treasurer Vice President, 1998 – 2000
  • National Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Permanency Planning Committee Co-Chair, 1998

Past Employment Positions

  • St. Louis County Circuit Court, Administrative Judge of Family Court, 2000 – 2004
  • St. Louis County Circuit Court, Circuit Court Judge, 1997 – 2004
  • St. Louis Circuit Court, Associate Circuit Judge, 1979 – 1997
  • Solo Practitioner, Attorney and Counselor at Law, 1975 – 1979

Pro Bono Activities

  • Member of board of directors of HOME WORKS!, a school-based parent engagement program
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Eastern Missouri Region, Board Member, 2002 – 2008
  • Food Outreach, President and Board Member, 2002 – 2006
  • National Council of Jewish Women, Awards Selection Committee, 1998 – Present
  • Board Member, St. Louis University law School Alumni Association, 25th Reunion Committee: Win With Women, 2004 – Present
  • Founding Member, Caring for Kids, 2004 – Present