Attorney Profiles

Charles E. Buchanan

Charles Buchanan was raised in Joplin. He graduated from Joplin High School in 1963. He received a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri and practiced as a chemical engineer before serving two years as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army in Korea. Then he attended law school at the University of Missouri where he was a member of the board of editors of the Missouri Law Review and graduated with Honors in the top 10% of his law school class. Since receiving his Juris Doctorate he has practiced law in Joplin.

He has been active in the Boys & Girls Club and was President in 1994 and 1995. He has also been active in Habitat for Humanity, Lafayette House and several other civic organizations. He is an avid reader and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities.

His area of practice is personal injury and worker's compensation. For more than 25 years he has represented clients in a wide variety of law suits including wrongful death, product liability, sex discrimination, automobile accident, medical malpractice and worker's injury on the job.

Walter E. Williams

Walter Williams was born in Brookfield, Missouri in 1950. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in General Business in 1972 and from the University of Missouri with a Juris Doctorate in 1975. Walter practiced law with a law firm in Webb City from 1975 to 1981 and was city attorney for Carterville and assistant prosecuting attorney for Webb City. Since 1981 he has been practicing in Joplin.

His hobbies include hunting, gun collecting, power boating, fishing, jogging and snow skiing. He was commissioner of the Joplin Adult Soccer League for approximately five years and was a youth soccer coach for his children. He regularly participates in half-marathon runs.

Walter was the attorney for Joe and Joyce Cruzan in the Nancy Cruzan case. This case attracted worldwide attention and was the first Right to Die case decided by the United States Supreme Court. The case was tried, appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, and eventually heard before the United States Supreme Court, where Walter appeared as co-counsel. This continues to be the leading United States case on the Right to Die.

Walter does a general practice of law with emphasis in family law, probate and general civil litigation.

Jared P. Stilley

Jared Stilley was born in Miami, Oklahoma in 1977. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1996. He graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2000 and received his Juris Doctorate in 2004 from the University of Arkansas. Prior to joining this law firm, he worked as an Assistant with the Jasper County Prosecutor's Office.

He has been a long-time athlete, enjoying football, baseball, basketball and powerlifting. He has competed in state and national strength competitions and continues to enjoy strength training.

Areas of practice include criminal and traffic defense, personal injury, worker's compensation and general civil litigation.

Buchanan, Williams and Stilley, P.C.

Corporate Center
1105 E. 32nd St.
Suite 5
P.O. Box 1582
Joplin, MO 64802

(417)623-0900
(800)371-8220
Fax: (417)781-9706

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