As The Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County, Jim Kanatzar has prosecuted many of Missouri’s most violent criminals. Jim started his career in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office 16 years ago and was appointed as The Prosecuting Attorney in January 2007. For Kanatzar, the appointment was the culmination of a career dedicated to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office during which he has worked in virtually each of the office’s units.
Originally from Kansas City, Jim is a 1985 graduate of Rockhurst High School. He earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1989, followed by his law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1992.
Kanatzar began his legal career in Kansas City as a law clerk in Jackson County’s County Counselor’s Office from 1990 to 1991. The following year he joined the prosecutor’s office Drug Abatement Response Team (DART), where he worked to improve neighborhoods by closing properties throughout the county associated with drug activity.
Kanatzar moved on to become a trial attorney devoted to prosecuting cases generated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force. As a trial attorney there, he was responsible for the review, filing and prosecution of more than 200 cases investigated by the Task Force. He began his tenure as a supervising attorney in 1995 when he was named trial team leader for the Domestic Violence Unit. There he supervised three assistant prosecutors and was responsible for the prosecution of all crimes involving domestic abuse. The same year Kanatzar was appointed to the homicide committee. This group of seasoned attorneys reviews and files homicide cases. His work on the homicide committee brought him experience as lead counsel and second chair on murder cases.
In 1996, Kanatzar returned to the prosecutor’s office based in Independence to become a trail team leader for the Independence Drug Unit. The following year he became the Chief Warrant Officer in Eastern Jackson County. He continued his supervisory role over nine assistant prosecutors responsible for reviewing, filing and prosecuting criminal cases up to the trial stage of the prosecution. Kanatzar was named one of four Chief Trial Assistants in 1999. As Chief Trial Assistant for Eastern Jackson County, he supervised the Independence Warrant Desk, Independence Drug Unit and the Bad Check Unit. The attorneys he directed were responsible for the review, filing of charges and prosecution of all state misdemeanors and felonies in Eastern Jackson County. During his role as Chief Trial Assistant, Kanatzar was named the Louis Lombardo Prosecutor of the Year in 2000.
After a year working in private legal practice, Kanatzar returned to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office in 2002 when he was chosen by his predecessor, Mike Sanders, for the position of Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. As Deputy Prosecutor, he was responsible for the administration of the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and supervised its 77 assistant prosecuting attorneys and 148 support staff.
Jim served as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the next 4 years until he was appointed as the Jackson County Prosecutor.
Kanatzar is on the 16th Circuit Bar Ethics Committee since his appointment by the Missouri Supreme Court to serve on its Region IV Disciplinary Committee. The committee reviews complaints regarding attorneys licensed in the state and conducts hearings and recommends disciplinary action. Kanatzar is a member of the Missouri Bar, where he serves on the criminal law committee, the governmental law committee, the professionalism and ethics committee, and the special task force on the unauthorized practice of law. He also is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Eastern Jackson County Bar Association and the Kansas Bar.
Kanatzar met his wife Jill while they were both Assistant Jackson County Prosecutors in 1995. They have been married for over 10 years and live in Kansas City with their two sons who are 8 and 5 years old.