Newly appointed appellate judge thanks Building Trades for their support

Newly appointed appellate judge Lisa Page visited the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council last week to thank members for their support of her appointment.

Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Page Dec. 22 to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Judge Page will fill the vacancy on the appellate court created by the retirement of the Honorable Clifford Ahrens.

Page has served as Circuit Judge for the 23rd Judicial Circuit, which covers Jefferson County, since January 2007. She was presiding judge of the circuit for two years, and has served as the administrative judge of the Jefferson County Family Court. During her tenure on the bench, Judge Page has been extensively involved with the Missouri Court Management Institute (MCMI), which works to improve the effectiveness of the legal system and the administration of justice.

In 2013, Judge Page was appointed to serve as a Special Judge on the Missouri Supreme Court in two cases, and she also has been appointed as a Special Judge for the Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Prior to taking the bench, she was a Family Court Commissioner in Jefferson County. She operated a private law practice in Festus from 1997 to 2005 and also served as municipal judge for the cities of Crystal City and DeSoto from 2003 to 2005.

With such an impressive resume could be excused for accepting her appointment without a nod to those who wrote letters and made phone calls supporting her, but that’s not her style.

“My daddy told me when I was 15 and just starting dating ‘You always dance with the boy who brought you to the dance.’ I’m here to tell you, I believe that and I won’t forget what you did for me,” Page told the Council. “I can assure you I will always make fair and impartial judgments.”