15 April 2021
ST. LOUIS – The Twenty-Second Circuit Judicial Commission announced the panel of three nominees to be submitted to Governor Michael L. Parson to fill the circuit judge vacancy in the 22nd Judicial Circuit (St. Louis city) created by the appointment of Judge Thomas C. Clark II to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Those nominated by the commission are:
John T. Bird – Bird graduated in 1984 from the University of Missouri-Rolla, in 1987 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and earned his law degree in 1989 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Bird is currently an assistant United States attorney.
Nicole Colbert-Botchway – Colbert-Botchway graduated in 1993 from Saint Louis University, earned her law degree in 1996 from Saint Louis University and earned her master’s of business administration in 2002 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Colbert-Botchway is currently an associate circuit judge in the 22nd circuit.
David A. Roither – Roither graduated in 1996 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and earned his law degree in 1999 from Saint Louis University. Roither is currently an associate circuit judge in the 22nd circuit.
The commission conducted one day of public hearings and interviewed 23 applicants. The commission believes 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 all of these individuals are capable of serving well and honorably if selected by the governor. Pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 10.29, the commission reports the final votes received by each nominee were: Bird received five votes, Colbert-Botchway received five votes, and Roither received five votes.
The members of the Twenty-Second Circuit Judicial Commission are: Judge Mary K. Hoff, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, and commission chair, Brent Dulle, Chris Goodson, Andre Harris and Bryan J. Sanger.
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Update: The governor on May 14, 2021, appointed John Bird to fill this vacancy.
Note: Links to the 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