2 February 2012

ST. LOUIS -- The Supreme Court of Missouri will convene at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, to administer the official oath of office as Supreme Court judge to the Honorable George W. Draper III. The investiture will be conducted in the en banc courtroom of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, in the Old Post Office, 815 Olive Street, St. Louis, Mo. An invitation-only reception will be held at the Crowne Plaza, 7750 Carondelet Ave., Clayton, Mo., following the ceremony.

More than 500 guests are expected to attend. Chief Justice Richard B. Teitelman will preside over the ceremony. Speakers are expected to include Gov. Jay Nixon, Congressman William “Lacy” Clay and Missouri Bar President Lynn Ann Vogel. Participants in the ceremony are expected to include Judge Gary M. Gaertner Jr., a judge on the Court of Appeals, Eastern District and Rev. C. Jessel Strong, president of the Metropolitan Clergy Coalition.

Gov. Nixon appointed Draper to the court in October 2011 to replace Judge Michael A. Wolff, who resigned in August 2011 to teach law. Draper formerly served as a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, from 2000 to 2011, and on the St. Louis County circuit court from 1994 to 2000.

To arrange for coverage of the event, please contact Beth Riggert, communications counsel, at beth.riggert@courts.mo.gov or (573) 751-3676 no later than 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10.