Missouri Supreme Court Judge Duane Benton was confirmed June 24 to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
According to a report in the Jefferson City Post-Tribune June 25 edition, the oath of office will be administered later this year. Benton, 53, will remain on Missouri's highest court until he resigns to move to his new position on the St. Louis-based appeals court.
Former Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft, who now serves as U.S. Attorney General, appointed Benton to the state's Supreme Court in 1991.
Benton, a deacon, Bible study teacher and trustee at First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, is former legal counsel for the Missouri Baptist Convention. He has served several years as a parliamentarian for the MBC annual meeting, including the 2003 session. He also is a frequent speaker in churches across the state.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Benton earned a law degree from Yale University in 1975 and became a certified public accountant in 1983. Benton was the state's revenue director from 1989-1991. He practiced law in Jefferson City for six years and was chief of staff to Republican U.S. Rep. Wendell Bailey from 1980-1982.
A judge advocate for the U.S. Navy from 1975-1979, he is a Vietnam veteran and retired from the Naval Reserve as a captain after 30 years of active and reserve duty.
According to the Post-Tribune report, Benton and his family will continue to live in Jefferson City until son Grant graduates from high school.
