April 3, 2009
Judges to fill vacancies in St. Louis, Bates counties
Gov. Nixon appoints judges in 21st, 27th judicial circuits
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today announced the appointment of two judges to fill vacancies for Circuit Judge in the 21st Judicial Circuit in St. Louis County and Associate Circuit Judge in the 27th Judicial Circuit in Bates County.
The Governor has appointed Associate Circuit Judge Gloria Clark Reno to the position of Circuit Judge for the 21st Circuit, which encompasses all of St. Louis County. The position became available upon the retirement of Judge Melvyn W. Wiesman. Judge Reno, 59, of University City, has been an associate circuit judge on the 21st Circuit since March 2002, presiding over a variety of civil, family law and criminal cases. Prior to taking her seat on the bench, Judge Reno was a senior trial attorney with the Hale Law Firm in St. Louis from 1997 to 2002, and she served as municipal judge of the City of Northwoods, Mo., from 1994 to 2002. Earlier in her career, Judge Reno was an instructor at both Maplewood Richmond Heights School and St. Louis University and served as an attorney with the Missouri State Public Defender System. Judge Reno earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1973 and a juris doctorate from the St. Louis University School of Law in 1986.
Judge Reno was one of three applicants submitted to the Governor for consideration by the 21st Circuit Judicial Commission under the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan. She will be the first African-American woman to serve as a circuit judge for St. Louis County.
The Governor has appointed Debra Ann Hopkins to the position of Associate Circuit Judge for Bates County in the 27th Judicial Circuit. Ms. Hopkins, 58, of Butler, is an attorney with the Caskey, Hopkins & West law firm, practicing in the areas of family law, probate, estate planning, workers' compensation, business law, criminal and other areas. She holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. The position became available upon the retirement of Judge John M. O'Bannon.