21 July 2023
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 31st Circuit Judicial Commission conducted two days of public hearings, interviewed 16 applicants, and selected a panel of three nominees for the vacancy in the position of circuit judge of the 31st Judicial Circuit created by the retirement of the Honorable Michael J. Cordonnier. The nominees are:
Derek A. Ankrom, an attorney at Spencer Fane law firm;
Kevin James Rapp, an attorney at Aleshire Robb & Rapp law firm; and
Jared Robertson, an attorney at Malkmus Law Firm.
The commission believes these three candidates, chosen from a field of 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. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 10.20, the commission notes the final votes received by each nominee after 3.5 hours of deliberation were: Ankrom received four votes, Rapp received five votes, and Robertson received four votes.
The commission has submitted the panel to Governor Michael Parson, who will have 60 days to appoint one of the nominees as circuit judge.
The commission is chaired by Chief Judge Jack Goodman of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, and is composed of attorneys Deborah Dodge and Kurt Larson and lay members Kim Hancock and Dr. Fred McQueary.
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Update: The governor on August 18, 2023, appointed Derek Ankrom to fill this vacancy.
Note: Links to the nominees' applications typically are disabled after the governor makes his appointment.
Contact: Craig Street, clerk of the court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District
(417) 895-6811