27 November 2007

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Laura Denvir Stith, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and chair of the Appellate Judicial Commission, announced today that the commission has submitted to Governor Matt Blunt its panel of nominees to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. The vacancy exists due to the September 11, 2007, retirement of Judge Phillip R. Garrison, who had served on the Southern District since 1992.

In alphabetical order, the panel consists of M. Susan Appelquist; the Honorable Don Burrell Jr.; and W. Edward Reeves.

Appelquist is a sole practitioner with the Appelquist Law Offices in Mt. Vernon and Springfield. She was born in July 1954 in Springfield. She received a bachelor of science degree in education, magna cum laude, with a major in English, in 1976, and her law degree in 1979, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She lives in Springfield.

Burrell is the presiding judge on the 31st Judicial Circuit. He was born in December 1960 in Springfield. He received his bachelor of science in finance, magna cum laude, in 1982, from Missouri State University, formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University, in Springfield. He received his law degree in 1991 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Burrell lives in Strafford.

Reeves is a partner in the Caruthersville law firm of Ward & Reeves. He was born in August 1960 in St. Louis. He received a bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude, in 1983 and his law degree, cum laude, in 1986, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He lives in Caruthersville.

Blunt has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. If the governor should fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.

Demographic information: There were 20 applicants for this vacancy. Of these, there was one woman and 19 men; they were all non-minorities; and there were nine who work in the private sector and 11 who work in the public sector. The applicants' mean age was 51.

Note: The governor appointed Don Burrell to fill this vacancy.

Contact: Beth S. Riggert

Communications Counsel

Supreme Court of Missouri

(573) 751-3676