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Gov. Nixon Taps New Mo. Supreme Court Justice

Governor Jay Nixon has named Judge George Draper the Third to the Missouri Supreme Court.  Draper will move to the state’s High Court from the Eastern District Appeals Court.

By Marshall Griffin (Jefferson City, Mo.)

Draper has served on the Eastern Appeals Court in St. Louis since 2000, and has also taught trial advocacy classes at St. Louis University’s School of Law for the past 15 years. 

Draper will also be the first African-American to sit on the state’s highest court since former Judge Ronnie White retired in 2007.  In a statement, the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus said it’s extremely pleased with Draper’s appointment, and that his experience made him the best candidate for the job.

 St. Louis attorney Joe Jacobson and Jackson County Circuit Judge Michael Manners were also considered for the job.  Draper will replace Judge Michael Wolff, who retired in August.

As a born and raised Cleveland, Ohioan, Leanne Butkovic is no stranger to extreme fluctuating weather, frustrating sports teams and the charm of the Midwest and the people within it. She is a senior in the convergence journalism sequence at the University of Missouri-Columbia and has worked in several different newsrooms, yet has always had a penchant for radio. Since her freshman year, Leanne has produced her own music show on the university's student-run radio station, KCOU. She has also contributed to several magazines and their online affiliates based in Ohio, including Scene Magazine and multiple trade publications. She was an intern for VICE Media, working in their online documentary TV 'station' VBS.tv, in New York City this summer.