Judge Richter ready for his new role at Court of Appeals

St. Louis Daily Record & St. Louis Countian, Jan 2, 2006 by Erin Suess

A longtime associate circuit judge will start the New Year unlike any other, as Judge Roy Richter makes the leap from Montgomery County to St. Louis as he joins the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Richter to the Eastern District on Wednesday, charging Richter with the job of replacing the late Judge Lawrence Crahan, who passed away on Aug. 29. Blunt chose Richter from a panel of three, submitted Dec. 9, which included attorneys Melinda Sanderson and Thomas B. Weaver of St. Louis.

This was not the first panel Richter appeared on, who was nominated, again along with Weaver, in April to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of the Judge William H. Crandall Jr.

Roy Richter has served Missourians well as a former prosecutor and as an associate circuit judge, Blunt said in a news announcement. He has the ability and the experience to make a strong and immediate impact on the courts' important deliberations and I am pleased he has agreed to continue his service to our state.

Richter is no stranger to the black robe. He served in the position of probate/magistrate judge in 1978 and was elected and took office on Jan. 1, 1979, in the role of associate circuit judge of Montgomery County, which is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit. Twenty-seven years later, Richter prepares to enact the judicial ritual again.

I'm just staggered and flabbergasted that the governor had the confidence in me to do it, said Richter of his reaction to the appointment.

Unfortunately, a great sadness touches this happy time for him.

A real good friend, who got me started in the law business out here, passed away yesterday morning, said Richter, referring to St. Charles County first assistant prosecuting attorney Jim Gregory, in an interview on Thursday. It's a shame.

Although the position and the location are new territories, Richter foresees a smooth transition to the Eastern Distict, due in part to his long-term service as a judge.

I've known most of the folks down at the Eastern District for a long time. Bob Dowd and I went on the bench at the same time. I remember when most of them came onto the bench, at one place or another. I don't remember when Judge Gaertner did because he took office on my 19th birthday, said Richter with a laugh.

I like all of them, said Richter of his new colleagues, and I hope they get along with me. I think we'll enjoy working together.

Born July 14, 1950, in St. Louis, Richter attended Brentwood High School and then Drury College, graduating in 1972. Richter earned his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1976, focusing his legal career on public service. After passing the bar, he began working as the prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County for one term, from 1977 to 1979. In that position, he encountered a cornucopia of legal issues, from criminal matters to child support enforcement, from traffic violations to homicide.

Aside from his regular duties as an associate circuit judge, Richter has done double-duty as the juvenile division judge for the 12th Circuit, comprised of Audrain, Montgomery and Warren counties, since 1990.

Other legal pursuits taken on by Richter include spending extended periods of time in other circuits such as St. Charles, Callaway and Boone counties and helping to relieve case backlogs in St. Louis County, as well as teaching at the Missouri Judicial College, Missouri Juvenile Justice Association training meetings, Municipal Judge Education Seminars and the Constitution/Criminal Law Section of the Basic Law Enforcement Officer's Training.

Richter gives his time freely to various legal organizations, such as the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges, the Missouri Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, The Missouri Bar and the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association.

All of his hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, however. Richter was recognized by the Judicial Conference in 1994 for his significant contributions to the advancement of the administration of justice in Missouri. He also received the Patrick Henry Citation by the U.S. National Guard as well as the Chief Justice's Award from the Missouri Judicial Conference.