New circuit judge for 26th circuit

Retiring Judge Stanley Moore administers the oath of office to newly appointed 26th Circuit Court Judge Matthew Hamner.
Retiring Judge Stanley Moore administers the oath of office to newly appointed 26th Circuit Court Judge Matthew Hamner.

Gov. Eric Greitens appointed Associate Judge Matthew P. Hamner, of Osage Beach, on Nov. 2 to fill the seat left vacant on the 26th Judicial Circuit by the recent retirement of Judge Stanley Moore.

"I am honored by the faith the governor has shown in me by making this appointment," said Hamner, who has been serving the Associate Circuit of Camden County. "And I'm really excited to get started serving the people of the 26th Judicial Circuit."

The 26th Judicial Circuit serves courts in Camden, Laclede, Miller, Morgan and Moniteau counties.

"I enjoyed my time on the associate court bench but am looking forward to expanding into serving the entire five-county area," Hamner said.

Hamner, who obtained his undergraduate and law school degrees from the University of Missouri, was born and raised in the Lake of the Ozarks area. He began his career by serving as a law clerk to the Honorable William R. Price Jr. of the Missouri Supreme Court. From there, Hamner worked at a private practice in the Kansas City area.

Hamner was appointed in 2015 to the Camden County Associate Court and served there until his recent appointment to the circuit court.

Hamner and his wife, Sherrie, also a lawyer, have two daughters.

Despite a shared passion for law, Hamner said he and his wife have wide ranging interests. Hamner served as the University of Missouri mascot, Truman the Tiger, from 1994-98 and also spent several years racing stock cars around various tracks throughout Mid-Missouri.

Hamner -who is currently serving in the associate and circuit courts until the governor appoints someone to the lower court's bench­- said he is looking forward to hearing complex civil and criminal cases.

In addition to his regular duties, Hamner will sit on the bench in all cases involving juveniles handled by the 26th Judicial District. He and his wife have a passion for handling cases involving juveniles. In her private practice, Sherrie specializes in cases involving abused and neglected children and also serves as child abuse resource prosecutor for the state.

Hamner is president of the 26th Judicial Circuit Bar Association and a board member for the Camdenton Rotary Club and the Camdenton Education Foundation. He and his family are members of the Harper Chapel United Methodist Church in Osage Beach.