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Parson makes judicial appoints in Jackson, St. Charles circuit courts

On Thursday, Gov. Mike Parson promoted an associate judge in Jackson County and filled a recently created associate judgeship in St. Charles.

Parson appointed the Honorable Cory L. Atkins as Circuit Judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit. He will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Jack R. Grate.

Atkins, of Independence, is currently an Associate Circuit Judge in Jackson County. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst University in Kansas City and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Parson also appointed Brittney R. Smith as Associate Circuit Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit. She will fill an Associate Circuit Judge position created by the Missouri General Assembly in 2018.

Smith, of St. Charles, is a Special Victims Prosecutor with the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Boston University and a Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law.