Judge Gary M.
Gaertner, Jr.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District
Dates of Judicial Service:
- Appointed in 2000 as Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit of Missouri; Retained in 2002 and 2008;
- Served as Probate Judge 2008-09 for the 21st Judicial Circuit of Missouri;
- Appointed in 2009 to Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, retained in 2012 for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2024.
Education:
- Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, Saint Louis University School of Law, 1990
- B.S., Economics, Magna Cum Laude, Honors Program, Saint Louis University, 1987
Prior Employment:
- U.S. Department of Justice-U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Federal Prosecutor; Chair, Insurance Fraud Task Force, 1995-2000
- St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, Assistant State Prosecutor, 1992-1995
- Bryan Cave, Associate, Attorney, 1990-1992
- Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Registered Stockbroker, 1987-1988
Professional Memberships:
- The Missouri Bar
- The Illinois Bar
- St. Louis County Bar Association
- The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Lawyers Association of St. Louis
- The American Bar Association
Civic and Charitable Activities:
- Board Member and Secretary, The Crusade Against Crime, Medal of Valor
- Member, St. Clement of Rome Church
Awards and Honors:
- Chair/Member, Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges, 2020-Present
- Judicial Excellence Award, Appellate, Supreme Court of Missouri, September 18, 2024
- Selected Settlement and Mediation Judge for Missouri Court of Appeals, 2019-Present
- Missouri History Museum, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, 2013-2020
- The Benjamin F. Edwards III Memorial Award, Matthews-Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club, 2013
- Served as a Special Judge for the Missouri Supreme Court, March 1, 2005 and December 16, 2009
- Boys and Girls Town of Missouri, Board of Directors 2000-2009
- St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, 2001
- Council Member, Young Lawyers Division of the Missouri Bar, 1998-2001
- Volunteer Tutor, Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, 1996-2001
- The John C. Shepherd Professionalism Award, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, 1999
- Special Achievement Award, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 1997
- Awarded Membership, Alpha Sigma Nu Scholastic Society, SLU Law School, 1990
- Awarded Childress Scholastic Fellowship, SLU Law School, 1987-90
- Awarded Thomas J. White Family Fellowship For Public Service, 1988-1990
- Member, Saint Louis University Law Review, 1988-89
Additional Information:
- Born in St. Louis, Missouri
- Married with seven children