Laura Denvir Stith

Laura Denvir Stith (born October 30, 1953) is a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri. Stith has been a member of the court since 2001 and from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009, she served as the court's Chief Justice. The Missouri Supreme Court selects its chief justice for a two-year term by vote of the members; Stith was the second female to hold the position. She graduated magna cum laude from Jackson College for Women (now part of Tufts Univer... more

Laura Denvir Stith (born October 30, 1953) is a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri. Stith has been a member of the court since 2001 and from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009, she served as the court's Chief Justice. The Missouri Supreme Court selects its chief justice for a two-year term by vote of the members; Stith was the second female to hold the position. She graduated magna cum laude from Jackson College for Women (now part of Tufts University) in 1975 and from Georgetown University Law Center in 1978. Judge Stith served as a law clerk for Chief Justice Robert Seiler of the Missouri Supreme Court and then entered private practice in Kansas City, Missouri. She served on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, from 1994 to 2000. On March 7, 2001, then-Governor Bob Holden appointed her to the Supreme Court of Missouri, and she was retained by a vote of the people at the November 2002 election. Judge Stith is a founding director for Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance... less