Michael attended college at Missouri State University, where he earned a BS in Management. In 1977 he received his JD from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of law, where he was honored to be a member of the Missouri Law Review.
Michael was elected as Polk County Missouri Associate Circuit Judge, a position which he held for 24 years until he retired from the bank in 2002, completed mediation training and had a mediation practice until becoming “of counsel” to the Kirksey Law Firm in 2005, practicing in the areas of Domestic Matters, Mediation, Probate, Criminal law and Estate Planning.
Michael became Prosecuting attorney in Hickory County Missouri when appointed by Missouri Governor Nixon in 2013 to fill an expired term of the previous prosecutor. He was then elected to that position by Hickory County voters in 2014. After becoming prosecuting attorney Michael has limited his practice at Kirksey Law Firm to Mediation and complex Probate Matters.
