A Probate Court Commissioner for the 16th Judicial Circuit was tapped by Gov. Mike Parson to fill a judicial vacancy created by Judge David M. Byrn’s retirement.
“Commissioners are created by state statute and by the legislature to serve in more limited jurisdiction capacities and assist the circuit courts with their caseload,” said Beth Riggert, communications counsel with the Supreme Court of Missouri. “There are certain courts that have probate commissioners who handle probate matters. For example, someone needs a guardianship or conservatorship or someone has died and the courts need to help settle their estates.”
Jerri J. Zhang, who lives in Kansas City, was selected by the Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Commission among three finalists to be Circuit Judge for Division 3 of the 16th Judicial Circuit.
Byrn retired from the position to join a company building facility, according to media reports.
The other two nominees were Jackson County Associate Circuit Judges Jessica Agnelly Krawczyk and Janette K. Rodecap.
“These commissions do their best to pick three well-qualified people from among the applicant pool with the idea that any of the three nominees if chosen, would do a good job in the position for which they were nominated," Riggert told the St. Louis Record. "But they all might have different backgrounds."
Zhang holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a juris doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
She was a lawyer with the Jackson County Counselor's Office where she prosecuted petitions for involuntary detention and represented Jackson County in civil litigation. Zhang also served as legal counsel for the Jackson County Public Administrator where she managed the estates of incapacitated and disabled individuals, minor conservatorships, and decedent estates. She has also worked as legal counsel for the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission and as Coordinator of Diversity Programs and Academic Success at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
“There were five people on the Commission and so you would need a majority of votes to be nominated and each of the candidates received a unanimous vote,” Riggert said. “There is no one specific right way or right person to be elevated to any particular position. This way it gives the governor choices.”
The commission is chaired by Judge Cynthia L. Martin, chief judge of the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals and is composed of attorneys Phyllis Norman and Kirk Presley, and lay members Connie Cierpiot and Damon Daniel.
“Being a judge is an important job, and it's important to have a good view of what each applicant's experience is, what different experiences they might bring to the table and be able to offer for the job,” Riggert added.