Applications open for Southern District Court of Appeals judge vacancy

The Appellate Judicial Commission for the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, is accepting applications for judge to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mary W. Sheffield.

Applicants must be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in the state, a U.S. citizen for at least 15 years and a qualified Missouri voter for at least nine years next preceding selection.

Citizens are encouraged to nominate well-qualified candidates for the commission’s consideration. Nominations are due no later than noon Friday, Aug. 1 by email at [email protected], or by mail to Appellate Judicial Commission, Missouri Court of Appeals Vacancy, Post Office Box 150, Jefferson City, 65102.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6.

The commission will interview applicants Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 25 and 26, at the Hotel Vandivort in Springfield. Interviews will be open to the public. The commission will select three nominees for the governor’s consideration following the interviews.

Sheffield is set to retire July 25 after more than 42 years of service, according to Missouri Courts. She earned her law degree from the University of Miami in Florida and worked in private practice in both Miami and Salem, Missouri, before opening a solo practice in Rolla. She was elected to the bench in November 1982 and served as a Phelps County associate circuit judge from 1993 to 2004, and then as circuit judge in the 25^th Judicial circuit from 2005 to December 2012. Sheffield was appointed to the appeals court in December 2012. She served as the circuit’s presiding judge in 2004 and 2010 and the Southern District’s chief judge from July 2015 through June 2017.