P.J. O'Connor

P.J. O'Connor joined the firm of Wagstaff and Cartmell in April of 2006, after leaving the United States Attorney's Office in the Western District of Missouri, where he was a Special Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting federal criminal cases. Prior to working in the United States Attorney's Office he worked as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office prosecuting major felony offenses. P.J. received his undergraduate degree in Political Science with an emphasis in English from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri in 1995. He graduated from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law in 2001.

P. J.'s primary focus will be defending clients who have been charged or accused of violating federal, state, or municipal laws. His experience in both federal and state court will be invaluable in helping clients make informed decisions as they try to resolve their legal issues. P.J. serves as the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel Representative for the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He was appointed to that position in late 2007 by The Honorable Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr., Chief District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.

P.J. is active in the community and is currently a member of the Rockhurst University Alumni Board. He is also active with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kansas City and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Rockhurst University. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Bishop Sullivan Center.