Have you ever had to replace a living legend? Or follow in the footsteps of a sister, brother, or co-worker who seemingly could do no wrong? If so, you can relate to my predicament.

For those who have been reading the Justice Matters commentaries for the past two years, you will be disappointed to learn this commentary is not penned by the Marvelous Mary Russell. Judge Russell is an extraordinary person and even more remarkable judge. She proudly grew up on a dairy farm near Hannibal, and from these humble beginnings, she went on to become one of just a few women practicing law in northeast Missouri. From there, she went on to the court of appeals and eventually became only the third woman ever to serve on our state’s high court – and the first to serve twice as chief justice! By the time she ended her second term as chief justice, she was presiding over the Court’s first female majority. And, as you well know, she does not like to toot her own horn but rather is committed to recognizing our local court staff who admirably serve the people in our local communities. It is a true honor and privilege to work with Judge Russell, and as long as the St. Louis Cardinals aren’t playing the Kansas City Royals, we get along spectacularly! 

Alas, Judge Russell has turned over the gavel – and the responsibility of penning these commentaries – to me. I cannot begin to replace her, so I won’t try, but I want to continue the Justice Matters tradition.

Unlike my predecessor, I didn’t spend my childhood on a dairy farm. But like Judge Russell, I am proud of my heritage. I hail from southwest Missouri and can honestly say I grew up down the street from Brad Pitt. He was a few years older than me, and I passed by his house every day as I walked to elementary school, always thinking he and his teenage friends were sooooo cooool! 

You won’t be seeing me in any upcoming movies with my old neighbor, so let me introduce myself. My name is Brent Powell, and for the last eight years, I have been honored to serve as one of seven judges on the Supreme Court of Missouri. Becoming a lawyer and later a judge wasn’t something I planned, but looking back, it seems the law was always meant to be a big part of my life. 

I am very blessed for many reasons. I was raised by parents and a community that loved and embraced me. I grew up in a family of legal professionals who worked in courthouses across the state. My mom was a probation and parole officer, my uncle a respected lawyer, and my dad has been practicing law for more than 50 years. Not surprisingly, I decided to become a lawyer. 

After graduating from William Jewell College in Liberty, I went to the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. At Mizzou, I met the love of my life. Beth and I married shortly after graduating from law school. That was more than 25 happy years ago. God willing, she will put up with me for at least another 25 years!

Beth inspired me to enter public service. After more than a decade as a state and federal prosecutor, I applied to become a trial judge in Jackson County and was appointed in 2008. It gave me a different perspective of the courtroom and sparked a passion to improve the administration of justice in our state. 

To fulfill my passion, I applied for a vacancy on the Supreme Court of Missouri in 2017. Thanks to the nonpartisan court plan – the merit-based system Missourians implemented 85 years ago to fill judicial vacancies in appellate courts and some trial courts across the state – I was fortunate enough to become a member of the Court. It was bittersweet to leave the incredible people I worked with in Jackson County, but the opportunity to focus on improving our judicial system was too exciting to pass up. 

Serving on the Supreme Court of Missouri has been incredible. My colleagues are brilliant, collaborative, and even a little musical! We don’t always agree, but we respect each other and work side by side to tackle challenges facing our courts. I also get to work with amazing staff and judges across the state, all dedicated to improving the administration of justice. 

In coming months, I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts about enhancing the way our courts serve Missourians across the state – especially in the realm of criminal law, a special interest of mine. I’ll also share with you some of my priorities as chief justice, including expanding access to justice, addressing the mental health crisis in our criminal justice system, and ensuring the continued success of Missouri’s nonpartisan court plan. All of these issues are close to my heart, and I’m committed to making progress during these next two years.

Being a lawyer and judge is more than a job to me – it’s a way of life. I’m proud to be part of a profession that puts the needs of others first, whether it’s serving clients, communities, or the legal system itself. I hope my story inspires others to consider entering the legal profession and working with me to make our courts better and more responsive for the citizens we serve.