ST. LOUIS – The Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission announced two panels of three nominees each to be submitted to Governor Eric Greitens to fill the associate circuit judge vacancies in St. Louis County created by the retirement of Judge Lawrence J. Permuter and the end of term for Judge Dale W. Hood.
Those nominated by the commission are for Judge Hood’s vacancy are:
Renee Hardin-Tammons – Hardin-Tammons graduated from University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1986 and from University of Missouri School of Law in 1989. She is currently a municipal judge and an attorney at the Dubail Judge PC law firm.
Colleen J. Vetter – Vetter graduated from Webster University in 1987 and from St. Louis University School of Law in 1990. She is currently an attorney at the Missouri attorney general’s office.
Nicole S. Zellweger – Zellweger graduated from The University of Georgia in 1999 and Washington University School of Law in 2004. She is currently an attorney at the Stinson Leonard Street law firm.
Colleen J. Vetter – Vetter graduated from Webster University in 1987 and from St. Louis University School of Law in 1990. She is currently an attorney at the Missouri attorney general’s office.
Nicole S. Zellweger – Zellweger graduated from The University of Georgia in 1999 and Washington University School of Law in 2004. She is currently an attorney at the Stinson Leonard Street law firm.
Pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 10.29, the commission reports the final votes received by each nominee were: Hardin-Tammons received four votes, Vetter received three votes and Zellweger received four votes.
Those nominated by the commission are for Judge Permuter’s vacancy are:
Daniel P. Finney III – Finney graduated from University of Montana in 2000 and from St. Louis University School of Law in 2005. He is currently an attorney at the Finney Law Office LLC.
John R. Lasater – Lasater graduated from University of Wisconsin in 1988 and from Washington University School of Law in 1991. He is currently an assistant prosecuting attorney for the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office.
Susan M. Petersen – Petersen graduated from Santa Clara University in 1995 and St. Louis University School of Law in 1998. She is currently an assistant prosecuting attorney for the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office.
John R. Lasater – Lasater graduated from University of Wisconsin in 1988 and from Washington University School of Law in 1991. He is currently an assistant prosecuting attorney for the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office.
Susan M. Petersen – Petersen graduated from Santa Clara University in 1995 and St. Louis University School of Law in 1998. She is currently an assistant prosecuting attorney for the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office.
Pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 10.29, the commission reports the final votes received by each nominee were: Finney received three votes, Lasater received three votes and Petersen received four votes.
The commission conducted two days of public hearings and interviewed 39 applicants. The commission believes that these candidates, chosen from a field of extremely qualified individuals, possess those qualities essential to the fair and efficient administration of justice. The commission is confident that all of these individuals are capable of serving well and honorably if selected by the governor.
The members of the Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission are: Judge Philip M. Hess, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District; Matthew J. Rossiter, Christy Bertelson, Jeffrey D. Sigmund, and Tiffany Mapp Franklin.
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Update: The governor on March 31, 2017, appointed Renee Hardin-Tammons to fill the Hood vacancy and on April 27, 2017, appointed John Lasater to fill the Permuter vacancy.
Contact: Laura Roy, clerk of court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District
(314) 539-4300
Note: Links to nominees' applications typically are disabled after the governor makes his appointment.
Contact: Laura Roy, clerk of court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District
(314) 539-4300