West Plains attorney Melissa Stewart has been sworn in as an associate 37th Judicial Circuit judge to replace Donna Anthony, who recently retired from the seat after being elected in 2018 and 2022. The appointment was made by Gov. Mike Parson and announced April 15, the same day Stewart was sworn in by Presiding Circuit Judge Steven Privette at the Howell County Courthouse.
Stewart is a Springfield native and a Class of 1985 graduate of Republic High School. She first attended college at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield (now MSU), where she met her husband, West Plains native Cary Stewart.
The two attended college at the West Plains campus for two semesters before returning to Springfield, where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in communications in 1990. In 1993, the couple married and made their home in West Plains. In 2000, she earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma and began practicing law in West Plains the following year at her own practice.
In her nearly 24 years as an attorney, Stewart has served as a guardian ad litem, which is an advocate for children in custody cases or cases of abuse and neglect, and as a child support prosecutor in the 37th Circuit, which includes Howell, Shannon and Oregon counties.
Her appointment followed a review of applications of lawyers who wished to join the court by a commission, then an interview. The commission then submitted the names of three qualified candidates to Parson. Typically, the governor then interviews the three candidates and selects one within 60 days.
If a candidate is not selected by the governor in that time frame, the commission will select one of the three finalists.
After an appointed judge has served for at least a year, he or she will be placed on a nonpartisan judicial ballot at the next general election for retention for a full term of office.
