ST. LOUIS – Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Friday his appointment of Lynne R. Perkins as St. Louis’ newest circuit judge. He will fill the vacancy created by the March retirement of Circuit Judge Michael Mullen. Perkins, 62, has served the associate circuit bench since October 2017. Since the start of 2023, he has been one of two associate judges assigned to the St. Louis Circuit Court’s bond review divisions.

“While interacting with the citizens of St. Louis City, I am reminded daily of the awesome responsibility that being a Judge brings,” Perkins wrote in his application for the appointment. “As such, I am mindful of the symbolism that my appointment carries and welcome the opportunity to serve. Thus, each day I have the privilege of taking the bench, I endeavor to work hard to earn the respect of the public and my peers, and to administer justice competently, fairly, and with patience and respect.”

Perkins grew up in St. Louis and went on to serve 20 years in the Air Force where he earned numerous medals. After his honorable discharge in 2000, he earned a law degree at Washington University in 2003 and worked for five years as a public defender in St. Louis. He then practiced as a private defense attorney for nearly a decade until his appointment to the bench.

During his time as a trial attorney, he said he came “to understand the often-complex nature of our judicial processes and the impact that courts and judicial decisions have not only on the lives of those involved but other members of our city, state, and nation.”

Perkins was among 11 applicants for the appointment. The 22nd Circuit Judicial Commission interviewed them May 3 and selected three nominees. The other two were Associate Circuit Judge David Roither and Family Court Commissioner Michael Walton.

The commission’s members are Michael E. Gardner, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, and commission chair; Matthew J. Devoti; J. Brent Dulle, secretary of the commission; Eva Frazer, M.D.; and Chris Goodson.

Perkins’ web bio is here: http://www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com/index2.html?XMLFile=xml/judges/Perkins.xml