13 February 2020
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – George W. Draper III, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and chair of the Appellate Judicial Commission, announces the commission today submitted to Governor Michael L. Parson its panel of nominees to fill the vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. This vacancy exists due to the November 2019 retirement of Judge Victor C. Howard.
The commission unanimously supports the three nominees. After nearly 4.5 hours of public interviews, more than one hour of deliberations and five rounds of balloting, the nominees are W. Ann Hansbrough, Jalilah Otto and W. Douglas Thomson.
Hansbrough is an associate circuit judge in Platte County (in the 6th Judicial Circuit) She was born in 1960 and resides in Parkville. She earned her bachelor of journalism in 1982 and her law degree in 1985, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She received seven votes.
Otto is a circuit judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County). She was born in 1977 and resides in Kansas City. She earned her bachelor of arts in communication and political science in 1999 from Tulane University in New Orleans and her law degree in 2002 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. She received seven votes.
Thomson is an associate circuit judge in Nodaway County (in the 4th Judicial Circuit). He was born in 1962 and resides in Maryville. He earned his bachelor of science in finance in 1985 from what is now Missouri State University in Springfield and his law degree in 1989 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He received seven votes.
The governor has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. Should he fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.
In addition to Draper, the commission is composed of Michelle Beckler of Marshfield, Scott S. Bethune of Kansas City, Neil Chanter of Springfield, Timothy M. Drury of St. Louis, Thomas K. Neill of St. Louis and Kathy Ritter of Columbia.
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Note: The governor on March 28, 2020, appointed W. Douglas Thomson to fill this vacancy.
Note: Links to the applications will be disabled after the governor makes his appointment.
Contact: Beth S. Riggert
Communications Counsel
Supreme Court of Missouri
Cell: (573) 864-1966