27 November 2019

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Appellate Judicial Commission is accepting applications for judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, to fill the vacancy created by the November 2019 retirement of Judge Victor C. Howard after more than 25 years of judicial service. Prior to his appointment to the appellate bench, Howard served as a circuit judge in the 7th Judicial Circuit (Clay County) for three years. Before that, he was a Clay County deputy county counselor from 1977 to 1991 and was in private practice from 1991 to 1993. Howard was appointed to the appeals court in 1993 and was the court’s chief judge from July 2006 through June 2008.

Citizens are encouraged to nominate well-qualified candidates for the commission’s consideration. The Missouri Constitution requires that a judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri, a United States citizen for at least 15 years and a qualified Missouri voter for at least nine years next preceding selection. Nominations should be submitted to the commission by e-mail at WDJudgeVacancy@courts.mo.gov, or by postal mail to Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District Judge Vacancy, P.O. Box 150, Jefferson City, MO 65102. The nomination form is available below.


Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2020. Interested persons may download the application materials below.


The commission expects to meet Thursday, February 13, 2020, at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District at 1300 Oak Street in Kansas City, to interview applicants and select a panel of three nominees for the governor’s consideration. The interviews will be open to the public. The names of those to be interviewed and information relating to the number and characteristics of all applicants will be released publicly prior to the beginning of the interviews.


Contact: Beth S. Riggert
Communications Counsel
Supreme Court of Missouri
(573) 751-3676