25 July 2007

COLUMBIA, 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 Supreme Court. The vacancy exists due to the retirement of Ronnie L. White, which was effective July 6, 2007.

The panel, listed in alphabetical order, consists of the Honorable Nannette A. Baker, the Honorable Patricia A. Breckenridge and the Honorable Ronald R. Holliger.

Baker is a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. She was born in October 1957 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She received her bachelor of science degree in 1978 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, and her law degree in 1994 from Saint Louis University School of Law. Baker lives in St. Louis.

Breckenridge is a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. She was born in October 1953 in Nevada, Missouri. She received her bachelor of science degree, with honors, in agricultural economics in 1975 and her law degree in 1977, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Breckenridge lives in Nevada.

Holliger is a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. He was born in July 1946 in Kansas City. He received his bachelor of science degree in education in 1969 and his law degree in 1973, both from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Holliger lives in Blue Springs.

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 30 applicants for the vacancy. Of these, there were seven women and 23 men; there was one Asian-American, four African-Americans and 25 non-minorities; and there were 10 who work in the private sector, 18 who work in the public sector and two who work in both. The applicants' mean age was 52.

Contact: Beth S. Riggert

Communications Counsel

Supreme Court of Missouri

(573) 751-3676