Matthew Johnson of Colfax takes oath to practice law

A good-sized crowd attended the swearing-in ceremony Oct. 2 in superior court for Matthew Johnson, the 2006 Colfax High graduate who passed the state bar examination this summer after completing law school at St. Louis University.

Judge David Frazier in his opening remarks noted new lawyers seldom come from small towns in this part of the state and those who do join law firms in urban areas.

Johnson has joined the Davenport law firm of Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf.

Johnson was formally introduced to the court by Rusty McGuire, who is a Rosalia High School graduate and a partner in the Davenport firm. All other members of the Davenport firm traveled here for the ceremony including Ken Carpenter, Mark DeWulf and John Kragt.

Before taking the oath Johnson introduced members of his family. Among those seated in the front row were his parents, Mark and Robyn Johnson, and his grandparents, Jim and Lynne Bruya and Lloyd Johnson, all of Colfax.

Colfax attorneys Gary Libey, Bruce Ensley and Guy Nelson also attended along with retired Colfax attorney Wes Nuxoll.

Johnson has done law student internships with the court and the prosecutor's office.

A reception for Johnson followed at the Colfax Golf Club that evening.

Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf is represented weekly in Colfax by Kragt, who practices at the Main Street office which was formerly the location of the medical practice of his grandfather, the late Dr. Harvey Kragt. His grandmother is Elaine Kragt of Colfax.

Kragt's father, Warren Kragt, was also among those attending the ceremony Oct. 2.