New bankruptcy court judge praised at investiture

St. Louis Daily Record & St. Louis Countian, May 22, 2003 by Rebecca Weisser

James B. Loken, chief judge of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, unable to personally attend the event, sent a letter in his stead to congratulate Surratt-States. "The office of United States bankruptcy judge is one of great responsibility," Loken wrote. "The caseload you will be assuming is a heavy one, but I am confident that your experience, intelligence and demonstrated legal ability will enable you to discharge your new duties efficiently and effectively. The people of the United States and of Missouri will be well-served by your tenure. On behalf of the judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, I extend a warm and hearty welcome to you to the 8th Circuit family. We are very glad to have you as a colleague," wrote Loken to Surratt-States.

Monsignor James Telthorst of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church offered an invocation and a benediction for the investiture. He referenced female Biblical characters who served as judges for their tribes and wished that in Surratt-States' courtroom "those among us who are least powerful may find an equal voice and fair hearing as those who are more easily known and more easily influential."

Surratt-States is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Mound City Bar Association and The Missouri Bar. She earned her law degree from Washington University School of Law in 1991 and has served as a bankruptcy panel trustee for the Eastern District of Missouri since 1997.

Surratt-States replaces Bankruptcy Judge David P. McDonald, who retired on Jan. 10, 2003. She is the first African-American to be appointed to the bankruptcy bench in the 8th Circuit.