JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Three Missouri appellate judges, two from the St. Louis court and one from Springfield, have been nominated to fill an impending vacancy on the state’s highest court.
The Appellate Judicial Commission has recommended Kelly Broniec, Michael Gardner, or Ginger Gooch replace Judge George Draper III on the Missouri Supreme Court. Draper retired earlier this month, the day before his 70th birthday.
Under the state’s constitution, judges are required to retire when they turn 70. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, appointed Draper to the bench in 2011. He is the second African American to serve on the court.
The commission interviewed the 23 applicants and presented the three finalists to Governor Mike Parson, who has 60 days to fill the vacancy. If Parson is unable to choose a judge, the commission will make the choice.