Finalists named for vacancy in St. Louis Circuit Court

St. Louis Daily Record & St. Louis Countian, Oct 13, 2008

Lawyers juggling public and private legal jobs have been tapped as finalists for a judicial vacancy in the St. Louis Circuit Court.

The 22nd Judicial Commission late last week named the three people it's recommending to Gov. Matt Blunt to fill a vacancy created by the promotion of Associate Circuit Judge Michael Mullen.

The nominees are: Theresa Counts Burke, Gerard A. Nester and Michael W. Noble.

Burke is a municipal judge for St. Louis city and has her own private law practice, where she handles civil and criminal law, domestic relations and administrative matters. She is also an adjunct professor at Fontbonne University, teaching about the state and federal constitutions.

Nester also has a private law practice, focused on probate and estate planning, and is the city's elected Democratic public administrator. He is unopposed on the November ballot.

Noble has been a drug court commissioner for the city's circuit court since 2007. His previous work included being a patent attorney for Armstrong Teasdale and a public defender.

All three received their law degrees from Saint Louis University.

The judicial commission also released general demographic information about the applicant pool. In all, 27 people applied for the opening, including 12 women. The pool's average age was nearly 42. Fifteen of the 27 applicants were minorities. Among those seeking a spot on the bench, 14 already work in the public sector, 10 are in private work and three do both.

The governor has 60 days to make his selection after receiving the panel. The vacancy opened when Mullen was tapped in July to move up to circuit judge.