19 vie for Eastern District vacancy

Nineteen people have applied to become the next judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District.

The Appellate Judicial Commission said 14 men and five women applied for the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Roy L. Richter. The commission plans to interview the applicants Sept. 3-4 before selecting three finalists to send to the governor. The commission said it is still developing policies to allow public access to the interview during the public.

The commission said there are two minority applicants. Seven are employed outside the St. Louis metropolitan area. Eight applicants work in the public sector, including six trial court judges. Nine work in the private sector, and two work in both. Of those in the private sector, four work in solo or small-firm practices. Their mean age is 51 years.

The applicants are: Deborah J. Alessi, Kelly C. Broniec, Thomas C. Clark II, Robert W. Cornejo, Kathleen S. Hamilton, Douglas W. King, Joseph B. Kloecker Jr., Ellen S. Levy, Fredrick J. Ludwig, Jeffery T. McPherson, Darrell E. Missey, Michael W. Noble, Eric S. Peterson, Michael D. Quinlan, David E. Roland, John P. Torbitzky, David R. Truman, M. Celeste Vossmeyer and Carl M. Ward.