The Appellate Judicial Commission has submitted to Gov. Matt Blunt its panel of nominees to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. The vacancy exists due to the Sept. 11, 2007, retirement of Judge Phillip R. Garrison, who had served on the Southern District since 1992.

There were 20 applicants for the vacancy. Of these, there was 1 women and 19 men; they were all non-minorities; and there were 9 who work in the private sector and 11 who work in the public sector. The applicants’ median age was 51.

In alphabetical order, the panel consists of M. Susan Appelquist; the Honorable Don
Burrell, Jr.; and W. Edward Reeves.

Appelquist is a sole practitioner with the Appelquist Law Offices in Mt. Vernon, Mo., and Springfield, Mo. She was born July 28, 1954, in Springfield. She received a bachelor of science degree in education, magna cum laude, with a major in English, in 1976, and her law degree in 1979, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Burrell is the presiding judge on the 31st Judicial Circuit. He was born Dec. 4, 1960, in Springfield, Mo. He received his bachelor of science in finance, magna cum laude, in 1982, from Missouri State University, formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University. He received his law degree in 1991, from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Burrell lives in Strafford.

Reeves is a partner in the Caruthersville, Mo., law firm of Ward & Reeves. He was born August 1, 1960, in St. Louis. He received a bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude, in 1983, and his law degree, cum laude, in 1986, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During law school he was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He lives in Caruthersville.

Blunt has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. If the governor should fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.