Three Republican candidates - Jeff Green, Richelle Grosvenor and Aaron Koeppen - are seeking election as the next judge of the 26th Judicial Circuit.
The winner of the Republican primary election Aug. 4 will run unopposed in the November general election.
The 26th Judicial Circuit includes Moniteau, Miller, Morgan, Camden and Laclede counties. The seat is being vacated as a result of the retirement of Judge Peggy Richardson.
Green, of Eldon, has experience as a criminal defense attorney and has spent 17 years as a part-time criminal prosecuting attorney. He also has experience in real estate boundary disputes, easements and rights-of-way, eminent domain, farming, farm operations and associated real estate, and issues regarding ownership of real estate.
"I have handled personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse and neglect. Further, I have experience in many Department of Natural Resources actions, discrimination, insurance claims, major contract disputes, manufacturing and construction disputes, condominium and timeshare development and disputes, and numerous homeowner and neighborhood association disputes," he said. "I also have extensive experience in adoptions and have represented parents and children in juvenile cases for most of my career."
Green said a priority for the position should be maintaining the court's integrity.
"In today's environment, people need to know they can and will receive a fair and impartial hearing and the decision made by our court will be based on knowledgeable, experienced and fair considerations," he said. "In addition, continuing to improve the time it takes for cases to move through our court system needs to continue to improve."
Grosvenor, of Lake Ozark, has practiced law for 20 years, including as an elected prosecutor, associate circuit judge, municipal judge, defense attorney and civil litigator. She previously worked in law enforcement as a dispatcher, jailer and in records.
"I have extensive courtroom and jury trial experience. I have done jury trials in murder, assault, robbery, burglary, stealing, drug manufacturing and distribution cases, as well as DWI and animal abuse cases," she said. "I have tried cases as both a prosecuting attorney and a defense attorney. As a prosecutor, I have put violent criminals behind bars where they belong, including high-profile murderers."
Grosvenor also noted integrity as a priority of her campaign.
"I am the only candidate in this race who is not accepting campaign donations," she said. "I believe a judge should be free from the perception of outside influence. I do not want to owe anyone anything. When I am in court, I don't want to wonder if the person on the other side has given money to the judge's campaign. Likewise, when I am the judge, I don't want anyone appearing in front of me to wonder the same thing."
Koeppen, of Four Seasons, currently serves as an associate circuit judge in the 26th circuit.
"I have presided over nearly 30,000 cases of nearly all types. Thousands of these cases are circuit-level cases," he said. "I led the effort to create specialized treatment courts for our circuit. I currently preside over the Veterans Treatment Court for our circuit and also the Drug and DWI Treatment Courts for Camden County."
He said the most important issue to him as a judge is upholding the Constitution.
"Especially at the circuit trial level, judges need to understand and uphold the principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution. The preservation of this great document is the greatest defense we have to the infringement of our rights," Koeppen said. "Judges sit in a very unique position, in that they are charged by oath to defend and uphold the Constitution. As your circuit judge, I will continue to uphold my oath of office and act fairly and impartially in every case."