1 November 2002

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., 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 Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. The vacancy exists due to the resignation of the Honorable James R. Dowd.

The panel consists of Michael P. Gunn, Booker T. Shaw and Erwin O. Switzer III.

Gunn is an attorney with The Gunn Law Firm PC in St. Louis and is the municipal judge of Manchester. He was born in October 1944 in St. Louis. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1965 and his law degree in 1968, both from St. Louis University. He lives in Des Peres.

Shaw is a circuit judge in the 22nd judicial circuit. He was born in September 1951 in St. Louis. He received his bachelor's degree in 1973 from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and his law degree in 1976 from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He lives in St. Louis.

Switzer is special chief counsel for the Missouri attorney general's office in St. Louis. He was born in February 1956 in St. Louis. He received his bachelor's degree in 1978 and his law degree in 1981, both from St. Louis University. He lives in St. Louis.

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.

Note: The governor appointed Booker Shaw to fill this vacancy.

Note: Links to nominees' applications typically are disabled after the governor makes his appointment.

Contact: Beth S. Riggert

Communications Counsel

Supreme Court of Missouri

(573) 751-3676