Appellate Judicial Commission announces nominees for Breckenridge vacancy on Supreme Court of Missouri

24 October 2023

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Appellate Judicial Commission has submitted to Governor Michael L. Parson its panel of nominees to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court of Missouri. This vacancy exists due to the retirement earlier this month of Judge Patricia Breckenridge.

The commission unanimously supports the three nominees. After nearly three hours of public interviews, more than two hours of deliberations, and 10 rounds of balloting, the nominees are Michael E. Gardner, Ginger K. Gooch and John P. Torbitzky.

Gardner is a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, in St. Louis. He was born in 1979 and resides in Cape Girardeau. He earned his bachelor of arts in political science in 2001 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his law degree, cum laude, in 2004, from the MU School of Law. He received seven votes.

Gooch is a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, in Springfield. She was born in 1975 and resides in Springfield. She earned her bachelor of arts, summa cum laude, in English and philosophy, law and rhetoric in 1997 from Stephens College in Columbia and her law degree, cum laude, in 2000 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. She received seven votes.

Torbitzky is a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, in St. Louis. He was born in 1984 and resides in Webster Groves. He earned his bachelor of arts, cum laude, in English in 2007 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his law degree, summa cum laude, in 2012 from Saint Louis University School of Law. He received seven votes.

The governor has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. Should he fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.

The commission is chaired by Chief Justice Mary R. Russell and is composed of Neil Chanter of Springfield, Connie Cierpiot of Lee’s Summit, Timothy M. Drury of St. Louis, Sally Hargis of Springfield, Thomas K. Neill of St. Louis and Kirk R. Presley of Kansas City.

Note: Links to nominees' application materials typically are disabled after the governor makes his appointment

Contact: Beth S. Riggert

Communications Counsel

Supreme Court of Missouri

(573) 751-3676

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Appellate Judicial Commission announces nominees for Breckenridge vacancy on Supreme Court of Missouri

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