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Governor Mike Parson appointed the Honorable Robin Ransom, ’91, as the next Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith in early March 2021.
With the selection, Ransom becomes the first Black woman to serve on the state Supreme Court. Ransom also is the fifth woman to serve, joining Mary Rhodes Russell, ’83, and Patricia Breckenridge, ’77, on the bench. Stith and Ann Covington, ’77, previous female judges, are both retired.
“Appointing a judge to the Supreme Court of Missouri is an important duty that I do not take lightly. I am proud and honored to name Judge Robin Ransom as the newest member of the state’s highest court,” Governor Parson said. “Judge Ransom will add valuable experience, perspective, and balance to the court. I have high confidence that she will continue to be a fair enforcer of the law, faithfully interpret the law as written, and reasonably consider decisions made at the trial and appellate level in her own evaluation.”
“The Supreme Court of Missouri serves an essential role in maintaining our system of justice, upholding the law, and protecting both the Missouri and the United States Constitutions, and I greatly appreciate the work of the judicial commission in submitting such a strong panel of qualified candidates,” Governor Parson continued.
Judge Ransom was appointed to serve on the Eastern District Court of Appeals by Governor Parson in 2019. Before serving on the appellate bench, Judge Ransom was appointed as a Circuit Judge for the City of St. Louis by Governor Matt Blunt in 2008. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Ransom served for six years as a Family Court Commissioner in the City of St. Louis. She also previously served in the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as well as the St. Louis County Public Defender’s Office.
(Photo courtesy of Office of Missouri Governor Flickr account)