23 June 2025

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Approximately 1,000 high school students from throughout the state watched three judges of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, conduct oral arguments live today from the Lindenwood University campus in St. Charles in conjunction with Missouri Girls State and Missouri Boys State. 

Then-Chief Judge Thomas C. Clark II, Judge James M. Dowd and Judge Michael E. Gardner heard oral arguments from attorneys regarding a criminal appeal from the St. Louis County circuit court. The judges, attorneys and The Missouri Bar President Shelley Dreyer then answered questions from the Missouri Girls State and Missouri Boys State student “citizens” in attendance.

Missouri Boys State is sponsored by the American Legion, and Missouri Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. They exist to teach the fundamentals of citizenship, government and politics to high school juniors in the State of Missouri. Participants learn first-hand the innerworkings of the three branches of state government – the executive, the legislative and the judicial. 

In a news release issued prior to the event, Judge Clark stated, “The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, is very pleased to conduct a case docket at Lindenwood University, which is hosting the talented young people participating in the worthwhile activities of Boys and Girls State. The judges and court personnel are very much looking forward to interacting with these over-achieving students coming from all corners of our state. We hope they find this a valuable experience while expanding their understanding of the court system, the appellate process and the rule of law.”

The weeklong events concluded with a “graduation” in which the students heard remarks from Supreme Court of Missouri Judge Kelly C. Broniec, herself a former Missouri Girls State participant.