August 9– Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 10.28(d), the Sixteenth
Circuit Judicial Commission announces the following demographic information
relating to applicants for the circuit judge vacancy in Division 14 of the
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), created by the August 1, 2024,
retirement of Judge John M. Torrence.
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There are 11 applicants, of whom six indicate they are female and five
indicate they are male. Two report being minority applicants, with one
declining to report. Seven applicants work in the private sector and four
work in the public sector. The average age of the applicants is 42.5 years.
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Pursuant to Rule 10.28(d), the commission announces it will interview all
11 applicants:
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> Kyle S. Belew
> Lauren D. Barrett
> Jeremy J. Baldwin
> Michelle L. Cocayne
> Kaitlin E. Gallen
> Ashley N. Garrett
> Robert E. J. Gordon
> Brandon A. Lawson
> Stephanie N. Lopez
> Patricia M. Scaglia
> R. Travis Willingham
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The commission expects to interview applicants starting at 9 a.m. Monday,
August 26, 2024, at the Missouri Court of Appeals, 1300 Oak Street, Kansas
City, Missouri. Each applicant will be notified separately of the time
scheduled for their interview. Interviews are open to the public, subject
to available seating. Interviews will not be available online.
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Immediately after the interviews, the commission will meet to select the
names of three nominees to send to the governor. Thereafter, Governor
Michael L. Parson will have 60 days to appoint one of the three nominees as
circuit judge in Division 14 of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.
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The members of the commission are Anthony Rex Gabbert, chief judge of the
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District; attorneys Jill Kanatzar and
Thomas Porto; and lay members Terry Anderson and Matt Haase.
Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Commission announces Applicants
