On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Law360 reported on U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough’s approach to disclosure rules for litigators in his courtroom, influenced by his extensive experience as a plaintiff’s attorney. Judge Bough, nominated to the Western District of Missouri’s bench by President Barack Obama in 2014, spent approximately 15 years in private practice, focusing on insurance, employment discrimination, and personal injury cases.

In a recent episode of Law360’s podcast, “Approach The Bench,” hosted by feature reporter Cara Bayles, Judge Bough discussed how his background as a plaintiff’s attorney shaped his general order. This order mandates that class counsel and leaders in multidistrict litigation disclose any third-party litigation funding, external control, and potential conflicts of interest.

Judge Bough emphasized the importance of monitoring and preventing fraudulent practices, referencing allegations in California where individuals were purportedly paid to solicit clients for fraudulent cases. He stated that a robust system is necessary to identify and address such potential conflicts, ensuring transparency and ethical conduct.

The podcast also covered various topics, including jury selection strategies, the court’s initiatives to reduce recidivism, and the importance of upholding ethical standards for both attorneys and judges.

Furthermore, Judge Bough’s court webpage includes a notice regarding a potential conflict of interest involving his wife, an attorney and Kansas City councilmember. During her campaign, she fundraised within the local legal community. Judge Bough has established specific rules outlining the circumstances under which attorneys can request recusal if opposing counsel donated to his wife’s campaign.

However, Judge Bough has also rejected recusal motions in certain cases, particularly when the timing of the requests appeared questionable. In a lawsuit alleging that petrochemical companies misled the public about plastic recyclability, he denied a motion for his recusal, noting that Kansas City was a potential class member. He argued that the plaintiffs should have waited until after class certification to determine whether the city, and consequently his wife, would be a party to the case. Similarly, he dismissed a request to remove him from a class action concerning Realtor commission fees, expressing skepticism that the attorneys were unaware of opposing counsel’s donations to his wife’s campaign, especially after an objection in a related case.

Judge Bough consulted with ethics experts when drafting the policy, meticulously documenting their advice. While he generally avoids seeking information about campaign donations to maintain impartiality, he typically recuses himself when the issue is raised. He stressed the significance of promptly disclosing any concerns, as delayed requests may be perceived as strategic maneuvers, particularly after unfavorable rulings.

 

 

Source: Law360