6 April 2016
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Commission is accepting applications for the position of circuit judge, Division 19 of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit (Jackson County). This position will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Kathleen A. Forsyth. Forsyth is retiring, effective July 15, 2016, after more than 21 years of distinguished service in the circuit court, first as a commissioner, and since 2003 as a circuit judge. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 10.26, the commission is authorized to nominate candidates to fill a vacancy which will occur at a definite future date, up to 60 days before the vacancy occurs.
Citizens are encouraged to nominate well-qualified candidates for the commission’s consideration. The Missouri Constitution, article V, section 21, requires that a circuit judge be at least 25 years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri, a qualified voter of Missouri, and a resident of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. Nominations should be submitted to the contact person listed below.
Applications and instructions are available below:
Application: in Microsoft Word in PDF
Instructions: in Microsoft Word in PDF
The application and instructions are also available at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, 1300 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri. The commission must receive all completed applications for this vacancy by 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2016.
The commission will meet June 7, 2016, in Division 4 of the Jackson County Circuit Court, 415 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106 to conduct public interviews of the applicants and select a panel of three nominees for the vacancy. Thereafter, Governor Jay Nixon will have 60 days to appoint one of the three nominees as circuit judge in Division 19.
Members of the commission are Alok Ahuja, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District; attorneys Teresa A. Woody and Michael A. Williams; and lay members William C. Gautreaux and Pastor Eric D. Williams.
Contact person: Terence G. Lord, Clerk of the Court
Missouri Court of Appeals - Western District
1300 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
Terence.Lord@courts.mo.gov
(816) 889-36000