The Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission announces the panel of three nominees to be submitted to Governor Michael Kehoe to fill the circuit judge vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Nancy Watkins McLaughlin. Those nominated by the commission are:
Ellen Wyatt Dunne – Dunne earned her bachelor of arts in political science in 1983 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and obtained her law degree in 1990 from Saint Louis University School of Law. She is an associate circuit judge in St. Louis County.
Mondonna Lee Ghasedi – Ghasedi earned her bachelor of arts in political science and English in 1996 from Southern Methodist University and obtained her law degree in 1999 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. She is an associate circuit judge in St. Louis County.
Julia Pusateri Lasater – Lasater earned her bachelor of arts in 1992 from Maryville University and obtained her law degree in 1995 from Saint Louis University School of Law. She is an associate circuit judge in St. Louis County.
The commission received 14 applications and interviewed all applicants during one day of public interviews on January 15, 2025. The commission believes these candidates, chosen from a field of extremely qualified individuals, possess those qualities essential to the fair and efficient administration of justice. The commission is confident each of these individuals is capable of serving well and honorably if selected by the governor. Pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 10.29, the commission reports the final votes received by each nominee were: Dunne received five votes, Ghasedi received five votes, and Lasater received five votes.
The members of the Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission are: Judge Thomas C. Clark II, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, and commission chair; Chris Baechle; Matt Reh, secretary of the commission; Michelle Spirn; and Kelly Wittenbrink.
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