Two judges named in Greene County

Gov. Mike Parson on Dec. 16 announced the appointment of two judges to the 31st Judicial Circuit in Greene County.

Joshua B. Christensen, currently a partner at Kutak Rock in Springfield, was appointed to the circuit bench. He fills the vacancy created by Parson’s recent appointment of Judge Becky Borthwick to the Missouri Court of Appeals Southern District.

The governor also chose Kaiti Greenwade, currently the prosecuting attorney for Dade County, as a Greene County associate circuit judge. She fills the vacancy created by Judge Jerry E. Harmison Jr.’s elevation to the circuit bench.

Christensen and Greenwade were selected from two panels of candidates that the 31st Circuit Judicial Commission nominated on Nov. 22. The other finalists for the circuit vacancy were Ann Mills and S. Jacob Sappington. The other nominees for the associate vacancy were Steven E. Kellogg and Daniel R. Wichmer.

The Greene County Circuit Court has seen a string of recent personnel changes. Parson’s appointment came just three days before the judicial commission was to consider 20 applicants to succeed Judge Jason R. Brown following his retirement.

Also Friday, the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission is accepting applications until Feb. 10 to succeed Judge Patrick W. Campbell on the Jackson County circuit bench.

Campbell intends to retire effective Feb. 20, 2023. The commission has set aside March 8 and 9 to interview candidates.

Campbell has served as a circuit judge since March 2013. An appointee of Gov. Jay Nixon, Campbell had been a family court commissioner in Jackson County in 2006 and previously was in private practice. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

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