Another Gary Gaertner to join Mo. Court of Appeals
Gaertner
JEFFERSON CITY — Gary M. Gaertner Jr. tried two years ago to make history and replace his father, Gary M. Gaertner Sr., on the Missouri Court of Appeals, but then-Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Kurt Odenwald instead.
Undeterred, Gaertner applied again, and today, Gov. Jay Nixon chose Gaertner to replace Booker T. Shaw on the appellate court in St. Louis.
Shaw retired in January after more than 25 years as a trial or appellate judge.
Gaertner, 44, has been a circuit judge in St. Louis County for nine years. Since January 2008, he has handled the probate docket.
Nixon said Gaertner had “proven his judicial ability…presiding over trials that were often complex, difficult and high-profile.”
Earlier, Gaertner served as a state and federal prosecutor. He got his law degree from St. Louis University in 1990.
Gaertner was one of three nominees chosen by a screening panel under the state’s “nonpartisan court plan.” The other finalists were Rep. Rachel Bringer, D-Palymyra, and Thomas B. Weaver, a partner at Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis.
Weaver also was nominated along with Gaertner in 2007, when Odenwald was chosen.
Good man and a good Judge! Missouri is lucky to have someone of his capabilities in this position!
Congratulations to Gary! I’m not a Republican, but I can appreciate his accomplishments and great judgment. And he’s a St. Louis Priory grad to boot!
Uh, do we really care where this guy went to high school? Can this town not get over that? Can we not exalt people on their professional accomplishments and personal abilities instead of where they went to high school? Honestly, no one outside of St. Louis cares where you went to high school. Really…..
Let’s be honest, I think the reference was to the Law School at Saint Louis University not this gentleman’s high school. Just making sure we read this right. Thanks
This is what wrong with our system. The system needs different people and someone should not be appointed because their Dad was also a judge. Once again, its not what you know, but you know.
This is NEPOTISM, and it reflects badly on the legal system which should be blind and not reward someone based on his father’s achievements.