It has been my privilege to serve on the Appellate Judicial Commission,and I am now finishing my six-year term of service. During these six years, the Commission has made nominations from which 15 of Missouri’s 39 appellate judge positions have been filled. I am proud of this body of work. These people are good judges; they are Republicans and Democrats, men and women, older and younger, racially diverse, and from a variety of law-practice backgrounds. Most importantly, all are smart, competent professionals who have now been appointed to do a job where smart, competent professionals are required.