30 October 2003

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Ronnie L. White, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and chair of the Appellate Judicial Commission, today announced that the Commission has submitted to Gov. Bob Holden its panel of nominees to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals, Southern District. The vacancy exists due to the retirement of the Honorable Kerry L. Montgomery.

The panel consists of Jeffrey Bates, the Honorable Mary Sheffield and Richard Schnake.

Bates is a partner with the Bruer, Wooddell, Oliver and Bates law firm in Springfield, Mo. He was born in September 1958 in Petersburg, Virginia. He received his bachelor's degree in 1979 from Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) in Springfield and his law degree in 1984 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He lives in Springfield.

Sheffield is an associate circuit judge in Phelps County. She was born in July 1955 in Durham, North Carolina. She received her bachelor's degree in 1976 from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and her law degree in 1980 from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. She lives in Rolla.

Schnake is an attorney with the law firm of Neale and Newman LLP in Springfield. He was born in August 1957 in Carthage. He received his bachelor's degree in 1979 from SMSU and his law degree in 1982 from Washington University in St. Louis. He lives in Springfield.

Governor Holden 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.

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Note: The governor appointed Jeffrey Bates to fill this vacancy.

Contact: Beth Riggert, Communications Counsel
Supreme Court of Missouri
Desk: 573-751-3676
Cell: 573-619-2849