New judges named to 38th Circuit

Gov. Mike Parson appointed Judge Jessica Kruse as a Christian County circuit judge and named Steven Ward to fill Kruse’s former position as an associate circuit judge in that circuit.

Kruse fills the vacancy left by Judge Jennifer Growcock’s appointment to the Missouri Court of Appeals Southern District. She earned her law degree from the University of Tulsa. She has practiced law since 2006.

Ward previously served as an attorney with McAfee & Taft in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1994.