Lindsay Runnels

ATTORNEY

Lindsay has devoted her career to helping people caught in the criminal defense system. She defends clients in all phases of litigation in federal and state courts with an emphasis on appellate and post-conviction proceedings. Out of her deeply rooted compassion for others, belief in human rights, and equal justice flows a tenacity and persistence that has resulted in clients’ death sentences being overturned and clients’ convictions being set aside. She is experienced in death penalty litigation in all phases, from trial to clemency; she represents individuals in actual innocence cases at the post-conviction stage; and she has a robust criminal trial practice.

The diversity of Lindsay’s practice reflects her early professional years developing her expertise in fact-finding and mitigation, particularly with respect to mental health issues, as part of several death penalty defense teams. Most recently, she spent three years as a clinical professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, teaching students how to investigate, issue-spot and develop the strategy to exonerate innocent clients as she herself represented several clients. She rejoined Morgan Pilate LLC in 2019, continuing her efforts to exonerate the wrongfully accused, in some instances pro bono.

Outside the office, Lindsay and her husband keep busy with their two young daughters. An avid Royals fan, Lindsay is not-so-patiently awaiting the return of Major League Baseball.

Lindsay Runnels

The University of Missouri-Columbia

  • B.A., 2003

The University of Missouri-Kansas City

  • J.D., 2009
  • Missouri
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Young Lawyers Section Pro Bono Award, The Missouri Bar, 2014
  • Decade Award, UMKC Law Foundation and Law Alumni Association, 2020
  • President’s Award, Excellence in Advocacy, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2022
  • Champion of Justice Award, Midwest Innocence Project, 2023
  • Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Service, St. Louis University Law School, 2023

Lindsay Runnels

Lindsay Runnels

ATTORNEY

Lindsay has devoted her career to helping people caught in the criminal defense system. She defends clients in all phases of litigation in federal and state courts with an emphasis on appellate and post-conviction proceedings. Out of her deeply rooted compassion for others, belief in human rights, and equal justice flows a tenacity and persistence that has resulted in clients’ death sentences being overturned and clients’ convictions being set aside. She is experienced in death penalty litigation in all phases, from trial to clemency; she represents individuals in actual innocence cases at the post-conviction stage; and she has a robust criminal trial practice.

The diversity of Lindsay’s practice reflects her early professional years developing her expertise in fact-finding and mitigation, particularly with respect to mental health issues, as part of several death penalty defense teams. Most recently, she spent three years as a clinical professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, teaching students how to investigate, issue-spot and develop the strategy to exonerate innocent clients as she herself represented several clients. She rejoined Morgan Pilate LLC in 2019, continuing her efforts to exonerate the wrongfully accused, in some instances pro bono.

Outside the office, Lindsay and her husband keep busy with their two young daughters. An avid Royals fan, Lindsay is not-so-patiently awaiting the return of Major League Baseball.

The University of Missouri-Columbia
  • B.A., 2003
The University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • J.D., 2009
  • Missouri
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Young Lawyers Section Pro Bono Award, The Missouri Bar, 2014
  • Decade Award, UMKC Law Foundation and Law Alumni Association, 2020
  • President’s Award, Excellence in Advocacy, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2022
  • Champion of Justice Award, Midwest Innocence Project, 2023
  • Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Service, St. Louis University Law School, 2023