14 April 2022
ST. LOUIS – The Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission announced the panel of three nominees to be submitted to Governor Michael L. Parson to fill the associate circuit judge vacancy in St. Louis County created by the appointment of Judge Heather Cunningham as circuit judge. Those nominated by the commission are:
Jason A. Denney – Denney graduated in 2001 from Tulane University and in 2004 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. Denney is an assistant prosecuting attorney in St. Louis County.
Megan H. Julian – Julian graduated in 1998 from University of Missouri-Columbia and in 2002 from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. Julian is the treatment court commissioner for the 21st Judicial Circuit (St. Louis County).
Justin Ruth – Ruth graduated in 1997 from University of Virginia and in 2001 from Washington University School of Law. Ruth is a principal at Riezman Berger PC in St. Louis.
The commission received 23 applications and interviewed all applicants during two days of public interviews held April 13 and14, 2022. The commission believes these candidates, chosen from a field of extremely qualified individuals, possess those qualities essential to the fair and efficient administration of justice. The commission is confident each of these individuals is capable of serving well and honorably if selected by the governor. Pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 10.29, the commission reports the final votes received by each nominee were: Denney received three votes, Julian received five votes, and Ruth received five votes.
The members of the Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission are: Judge Sherri Sullivan, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, and commission chair; William P. Grant; Al Koller III; Matt Reh, commission secretary; and Kelly Wittenbrink.