Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.
Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.
Supreme Court of Missouri

Dates of judicial service:
  • Appointed to the Supreme Court in August 1992
  • Retained in office at the November 1994 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2006. Retained in office at the November 2006 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2018.
  • Served as chief justice from July 2001 through June 2003
  • Previously served as a circuit judge in the 32nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri from September 1987 to August 1992

Education:
  • Educated in the Cape Girardeau, Missouri, public schools
  • Bachelor of Arts (major - history), Southern Methodist University, December 1973
  • Juris Doctor, Southern Methodist University School of Law, December 1976
  • Master of Laws in Judicial Process, May 1998, University of Virginia School of Law
        Thesis: The Case of Ex Parte Lange (or How the Double Jeopardy Clause Lost Its "Life or Limb"), 36         AM. CRIM. L. REV. 53 (1999)

Prior employment:
  • Partner in law firm of Limbaugh, Limbaugh, Russell & Syler, P.C., Cape Girardeau, January 1983 through August 1987
  • Prosecuting Attorney of Cape Girardeau County, January 1979 through December 1982
  • Associate in law firm of Limbaugh, Limbaugh & Russell, Cape Girardeau, May 1977 to November 1978

Professional memberships and activities:
  • Member, State Bar of Texas, May 1977 to date
  • Member, The Missouri Bar, October 1977 to date
    • Criminal Law Committee, 1979 to 1992; council member, 1981 to 1982
    • Bar Center Expansion Committee, 1980 to 1983
    • Property Law Committee, 1988 to 1992; chair, Private Roads Subcommittee, 1988 to 1991
    • Judicial Administration Committee, 1988 to 1992; council member, 1988 to 1992
    • Foresight Committee, 1992 to 1994
    • Commission on Legal Services, 1996
    • Fellow, The Missouri Bar Foundation, 1997 to date; board member, 2001 to 2003
  • Member, American Bar Association, 1977 to date
    • Litigation Section, 1985 to date
    • Judicial Administration Division, 1987 to date
    • Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Member, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 1986 to date
  • Member, The Federalist Society, 1993 to date
  • Member, National Conference of Chief Justices, 2001 to 2003
  • Member, American Judicature Society, 2001 to date
  • Supreme Court Committees:
    • Ad hoc committee to draft Supreme Court rule for facsimile transmissions, 1989
    • Judicial Records Committee, 1990 to 1992
    • Ad hoc committee to draft standards on jury use and management, 1992
    • Judicial Education Committee, 1992 to 1999
               Author, Jury Call and Management, 1 BENCH BOOK FOR MO. TRIAL JUDGES 32-1 (1998)
    • Family Court Implementation Committee - 1993 to 1995
    • Co-Chair, Supreme Court Task Force on Children and Families - 1994 to 1996
    • Chair, Commission on Judicial Department Education - 1999 to 2001, 2005 to date
    • Court Automation Committee - 2001 to 2003
  • Chair, Appellate Judicial Commission for the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, 2001 to 2003

Civic and charitable activites:
  • Frequent speaker, presenter and panelist for service clubs, civic groups, bar associations, high schools, colleges, law schools, charities and churches
  • Served as officer, trustee, and/or board member for the following organizations:
    • State Historical Society of Missouri
    • Division of Youth Services State Advisory Board
    • Friends of the Missouri State Archives
    • Jobs for Missouri's Future Committee, Department of Economic Development
    • Area Wide United Way, Cape Girardeau
    • Cape Girardeau Civic Center
    • Cape Girardeau Jaycees
    • Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau
    • Community Concert Associations of Cape Girardeau and Jefferson City
    • Crime Victims Assisstance for the Elderly, Inc., Cape Girardeau
    • Move Cape Forward Committee, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce
    • Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corporation
    • Boy Scouts of America, Great Rivers and Southeast Missouri Councils
    • Southern Methodist University Law Alumni Association
    • William Woods University
    • Major Gifts Committee, Southeast Missouri State University Foundation
    • Southeast Missouri Hospital, Cape Girardeau
    • Southeast Missouri Symphony Advisory Board
    • Rainbow Network, Springfield, Mo.
  • Lifelong member of Centenary United Methodist Church, Cape Girardeau (lay speaker; Sunday School teacher; administrative board member; chair, 1906 - 2006 Centennial Committee)

Awards and honors:
  • The Lawdragon 500 Leading Judges in America, 2006
  • Distinguished Alumni Award for Judicial Service, SMU Dedman School of Law, 2006
  • Jurist in Residence, St. Louis University School of Law (with Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr.), 2006
  • Merit of Recognition Award, American College of Trial Lawyers (Missouri Fellows), 2002
  • Political Advocacy and Legislative Achievement Award, Adoption and Foster Care Coalition of Missouri, 2001
  • Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, National Eagle Scout Association, 1998
  • Life Regent, National Eagle Scout Association, 1998
  • Special Service Award, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc., 1997
  • Distinguished Non-Alumnus Award, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, 1997
  • Honorary degree - Legum Doctorem, William Woods University, 1996
  • Class Sponser, "Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. Eagle Scout Class," St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 1996
  • "Part of the Solution Award," Professional Blackmen's Club of Southeast Missouri, 1991
  • Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 1990
  • Outstanding Young Missourian Award, Missouri State Jaycees, 1984
  • Distinguished Service Award, Cape Girardeau Jaycees, 1984

Additional information:
  • Personal:
    • Married to Marsha M. Limbaugh, vice-president and branch manager, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Cape Girardeau
    • Two sons, Stephen N. Limbaugh, III, and Christopher K. Limbaugh
    • Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr. is a Senior United States District Judge in St. Louis