Courtney Harness graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, in 2000 with a B.A. in English Literature and Religious Studies. She received her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2004.

During law school, Courtney interned for U.S. Magistrate Judge Noce in the Eastern District of Missouri U.S. District Court, the ACLU, and the Missouri State Public Defender’s System.

From 2005 to 2021, Courtney practiced as a criminal defense attorney. She has extensive trial experience, having first-chaired and second-chaired numerous jury and bench trials, and has been a trial skills trainer and facilitator at CLE programs in Missouri. Courtney is a past recipient of the Tom Cochran Community Service Award by the Young Lawyer’s Section of the Missouri Bar Association and a member of the Theodore McMillan American Inn of Court.

Courtney joined Sanford Law Firm in 2021. She prosecutes wage claims for employees.

In her spare time, Courtney enjoys traveling with her husband, hiking with their dogs, and volunteering with animal rescue organizations.