Under the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, the Appellate Judicial Commission helps fill judicial vacancies on the Supreme Court of Missouri and the three districts of the Missouri Court of Appeals. It accepts applications from lawyers interested in serving on the court and interviews the applicants. It then submits the names of three qualified candidates – called the "panel" of candidates – to the Missouri governor. If the governor does not appoint one of the three panelists within 60 days of submission, the commission selects one of the three panelists to fill the vacancy. 

Appellate Judicial Commission

Post Office Box 150
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-4144
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday    

Composition of the Commission  

The seven-member commission is chaired by the chief justice of the Supreme Court.  The other members include three lawyers elected by the lawyers of The Missouri Bar (the organization of all lawyers licensed in this state) and three citizens selected by the governor. Each of the geographic districts of the Court of Appeals must have one lawyer and one citizen member on the Appellate Judicial Commission. The chair serves for two years. All other members serve staggered terms of six years each.

 

Chair – The Honorable Mary R. Russell
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Term expires: June 30, 2025
            

Lawyers:   

Eastern District Member

Jennifer Hardester
St. Louis, Missouri
Term expires December 31, 2029

Southern District Member

Neil Chanter

Springfield, Missouri

Term will expire December 31, 2025

 

Western District Member

Kirk R. Presley                 
Kansas City, Missouri
Term expires December 31, 2027

Non-lawyers:

Eastern District Member

Timothy M. Drury
St. Louis, Missouri
Appointed by Governor Michael L. Parson
Term expires December 31, 2024

Southern District Member

Sally Hargis

Springfield, Missouri
Appointed by Governor Michael L. Parson
Term expires December 31, 2026

Western District Member

Connie Cierpiot
Lee's Summit, Missouri
Appointed by Governor Michael L. Parson
Term expires December 31, 2028

 

The procedures for election of commission members.