28 February 2023

Updated 27 March 2023 with instructions corrected as to commissioner list

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Commission is accepting applications for the position of associate circuit judge, Division 30 of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit (Jackson County) beginning February 24, 2023. This position is being created by the retirement of Judge Twila K. Rigby, effective June 9, 2023.  

Article V, section 21 of the Missouri Constitution requires that an associate circuit judge be at least 25 years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri, a qualified voter in Missouri, and a resident of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.  

Citizens are encouraged to nominate well-qualified candidates for the commission’s consideration.  Nominations should be submitted to the contact person listed below.

Public Nomination Form:  in Word  |  PDF

For those interested in applying, the application and instructions are attached:

Application:  in Word  |  PDF

Instructions:  in Word  |  PDF

Guidelines for References:  in Word  |  PDF

The commission must receive all completed applications for this vacancy by 4 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2023. Due to slight differences between the application for a circuit judge vacancy and an associate circuit judge vacancy, those that have recently applied for the vacancy in Division 10 will need to submit a new application if they wish to be considered for the Division 30 vacancy.  

The commission expects to meet Tuesday, May 16, 2023, and, if necessary, Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, 1300 Oak Street in Kansas City, to conduct public interviews of the applicants and to select a panel of three nominees for the vacancy. Further details regarding the interviews, including the manner in which applicants and the public will participate, will be announced at a later date. Upon receipt of the nominations, the governor will have 60 days to appoint one of the three nominees as associate circuit judge in Division 30 of the Jackson County circuit court.  

Members of the commission are Gary D. Witt, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District; attorneys Jill Kanatzar and Phyllis Norman; and lay members Terry Anderson and Connie Cierpiot.

Note: Links to application materials typically are disabled after the application deadline closes.

Contact: Kimberly K. Boeding, Clerk of the Court 

Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District 

(816) 889-3600