ST. LOUIS – Patricia Breckenridge, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and chair of the Appellate Judicial Commission, announces that the commission today submitted to Governor Jay Nixon its panel of nominees to fill the vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. This vacancy exists due to the resignation of Judge Clifford A. Ahrens, who retired August 1, 2015.
The commission unanimously supports the three nominees. After nearly five hours of public interviews, two hours of deliberations and six rounds of balloting, the nominees – each of whom received seven votes – are: Joel D. Ferber, Benjamin A. Lipman and Lisa Page.
Ferber is director of advocacy at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri in St. Louis. He was born in February 1959. He earned his bachelor of arts degree, with honors, in social behavioral science in 1981 from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and his law degree in 1985 from the New York University School of Law in New York City. Ferber lives in St. Louis.
Lipman is a member of Lewis Rice LLC in St. Louis. He was born in January 1966. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in economics in 1988 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and his law degree in 1991 from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. Lipman lives in St. Louis.
Page is a circuit judge in the 23rd Judicial Circuit (Jefferson County). She was born in September 1966. She earned her bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, in political science in 1988 from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and her law degree, cum laude, in 1997 from the Saint Louis University School of Law. Page lives in Festus.
The governor has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. Should he fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.
In addition to Breckenridge, the commission is composed of Michelle Beckler of Marshfield, Thomas M. Burke of St. Louis, Cheryl M. Darrough of Columbia, J.R. Hobbs of Kansas City, Edward “Nick” Robinson of St. Louis and Donald E. Woody of Springfield.
Update: The governor on December 22 appointed Judge Lisa Page to fill this vacancy.
Contact: Beth S. Riggert
Communications Counsel
Supreme Court of Missouri