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Judges, Southern District

Judges on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, are appointed under the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan. The judges sit in three-member divisions that rotate on an annual basis. Judges must be at least thirty years old, residents of their district, United States citizens for at least fifteen years and Missouri voters for nine years before their selection. All Court of Appeals judges serve twelve-year terms. A Chief Judge is elected by the judges in the district and serves for two years. Biographical information for each judge is listed below.

Jeffrey W. Bates
Chief Judge

Born September 28, 1958, in Petersburg, Virginia. Educated at Southwest Missouri State University (B.S., 1979) and the University of Missouri – Columbia (J.D., 1984). Married Harriet Nelson on April 27, 1979. They have three sons and three daughters. Practiced law in Springfield. Member: Order of the Coif; Phi Delta Phi; Missouri Law Review; Greene County and Missouri bar associations. Appointed to the Court of Appeals November 14, 2003, for a term beginning on December 1, 2003. Term expires December 31, 2006.


John E. Parrish

Born June 10, 1940 at Lebanon. Educated at University of Missouri-Columbia (B.S., business administration; J.D.). Attended National Judicial College, University of Nevada, faculty advisor, 1982. Married Claudia Barbee, September 1, 1962. One Son. Served as artillery captain, U.S. Army, 1966-1968. Received Army Commendation and National Defense Service medals. Practiced law in Camdenton; served as prosecuting attorney, Camden County, 1969-1973. Member: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Alpha Kappa Psi, Phi Delta Phi; Beta Gamma Sigma; Missouri Law Review; Missouri Bar Association; Children's Services Commission (1983-1990); board of directors, Lake of the Ozarks General Hospital, Inc.; Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners of Missouri (1974-1995); chair, State Judicial Records Committee; board of trustees, National Juvenile Court Foundation, Inc. (1987-1990); Missouri Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Appointed circuit judge, 26th Judicial Circuit in 1973. Elected in 1974, 1976, 1982 1988. Appointed to the Court of Appeals January 3, 1990. Retained in 1992. Term expires December 31, 2004.


Phillip R. Garrison
Born May 7, 1942 in Springfield. Educated at Drury College (B.A., 1964) and University of Missouri-Columbia (J.D., 1966). Married Patricia Kelly, January 27, 1965. They have one son, Timothy. Practiced law in Ozark and Springfield. Served as prosecuting attorney of Christian County (1971-1972). Member: American College of Trial Lawyers; Greene County, Missouri and American bar associations. Appointed to the Court of Appeals, December 30, 1992. Retained in 1994. Term expires December 31, 2006.


Robert S. Barney

Was appointed to the Court of Appeals, Southern District, in December, 1995, after having served 8-1/2 years as an Associate Circuit Judge in the 35th Judicial Circuit, Missouri. Prior to that time he was elected three times to the Missouri General Assembly, and represented District 156 in the Missouri House of Representatives at Jefferson City, Missouri. Judge Barney served three years in the United States Diplomatic Corps, United State Department of State with tours at the American Embassy at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and on the Current Intelligence Staff, Washington, D.C. He practiced law in southeast Missouri, approximately 15 years and prior to that time saw military service during the Vietnam War where he served for three years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Captain. He holds a B.S. Degree in Education from Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri and a J.D. Degree from the National Law Center, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Member of the Bars of the State of Missouri, Florida and District of Columbia. He and his wife, Janice H. Barney, an elementary school teacher, reside in Dexter. He has two sons, Robert Alexander and Stewart James Barney.
Nancy Steffen Rahmeyer

Born October 10, 1951 in Spencer, Iowa. Educated at Iowa State University (B.S. history), Southwest Missouri State University (MS Ed), and University of Arkansas (J.D.). Clerked in the Federal District Court (1987-1989). Served as part-time municipal judge in Springfield (1993-2001). Engaged in private law practice in Springfield (1989-2001). Married Dwight E. Rahmeyer in 1976. They have a daughter and a son. Member: Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, Arkansas Law Review. Appointed to the Court of Appeals February 1, 2001 by Governor Holden.

Gary W. Lynch

Born June 19, 1952, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Educated at Southwest Baptist University (B.A. mathematics and elementary education, 1974) and the University of Missouri – Columbia (J.D., 1976). Married Dana J. Cochran on August 17, 1974. They have two sons. Practiced law in Bolivar (1977-2002). Served as Associate Circuit Judge of Polk County in the 30th Judicial Circuit (2003-2006). Member: Missouri Law Review; Polk County and Missouri bar associations. Appointed to the Court of Appeals January 6, 2006, for a term beginning on February 1, 2006. Term expires December 31, 2008.



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