Robin Ransom

Robin Ransom (formerly Robin Ransom Vannoy;[3] born July 21, 1967) is an American lawyer who serves as a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She was appointed to the court in 2021 by Governor Mike Parson, and is the first African-American woman to hold the position. Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court, Ransom served on the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District from 2019 to 2021 and served on the St. Louis Circuit Court from 2008 to 2019.

Robin Ransom
Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri
Assumed office
May 24, 2021
Appointed byMike Parson
Preceded byLaura Denvir Stith
Judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District
In office
January 9, 2019 – May 24, 2021
Appointed byMike Parson
Preceded byLisa Van Amburg[1]
Succeeded byCristian M. Stevens[2]
Judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri
In office
September 11, 2008 – January 9, 2019
Appointed byMatt Blunt
Succeeded byCalea Stovall-Reid
Personal details
Born (1967-07-21) July 21, 1967
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Alma materRutgers University–New Brunswick (BA)
University of Missouri (JD)

Early life and education

Robin Ransom was born on July 21, 1967, in St. Louis, Missouri.[4][5][6] Her father was a firefighter and social worker.[7][8] She graduated from Rosati-Kain High School and Rutgers University–New Brunswick's Douglass Residential College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and sociology in 1988, and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1991.[6]

Career

Ransom began her legal career as a public defender in St. Louis County in 1992.[9] She became a prosecutor in St. Louis County in 1995 and in 2002 was appointed as a juvenile family court commissioner in St. Louis.[5][9][10] Also in 2002, she was appointed as an associate justice by Governor Bob Holden.[3] She was appointed to the St. Louis Circuit Court on September 11, 2008, by Governor Matt Blunt.[3][11] Ransom's peers on the court unanimously elected her to serve as presiding judge in 2018, succeeding Michael Mullen; she was the first African-American woman to hold this position.[3][9]

In 2019, she was appointed by Governor Mike Parson to serve on the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District.[5] Parson appointed her to the Supreme Court of Missouri on May 24, 2021; Ransom is the first African-American woman to serve on the court's bench.[5] She was one of 25 applicants for the position, and was selected from a field of three candidates put forward by a nonpartisan commission, as per the Missouri Plan.[7][12][13] After receiving the list of three candidates, Parson decided on Ransom within one day, though he had up to 60 days to finalize a decision.[8] State Representative Ashley Bland Manlove, the chair of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, said the group was pleased by Ransom's appointment but thought "the fact that it took two centuries to happen highlights the continued need to address inequities in all aspects of Missouri's judicial system".[8] Former Missouri Chief Justice Michael A. Wolff praised Ransom’s selection.[8]

Personal life

Ransom bowls competitively, having bowled since the age of 11; in March 2021, she bowled a perfect 300.[8] She tutors children for a local church's literacy program.[9] She is a member of the Juvenile Officer Performance Standards Work Group and the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board, as well as a mentor of the nonprofit The Literacy Project.[1][10]

See also

References
  1. Long, James (January 9, 2021). "Ransom appointed Judge to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District". KFVS-TV. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  2. Smith, Steve (October 22, 2021). "Governor Parson appoints new member to Missouri Court of Appeals". Newstalk KZRG. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  3. "St. Louis judges elect first black woman as presiding judge". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 22, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  4. "Official Manual, State of Missouri 2009–2010" (PDF). Secretary of State of Missouri. p. 278. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  5. Kuang, Jeanne (May 24, 2021). "Parson appoints Robin Ransom, first Black woman to serve on Missouri Supreme Court". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  6. "St. Louis judge, Clayton lawyer are nominees for open appellate court seat". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 19, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  7. Rosenbaum, Jason (May 24, 2021). "Robin Ransom Makes History As First Black Woman Named To Missouri Supreme Court". KWMU. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  8. Currier, Joel; Erickson, Kurt (May 31, 2021). "St. Louis native builds sterling record that 'stands on its own merits' on path to high court". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  9. Baugher, David (April 25, 2019). "Robin Ransom- Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District". Missouri Lawyers Media. BridgeTower Media. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  10. Rice, Rachel (January 10, 2019). "St. Louis judge appointed to Missouri Court of Appeals". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  11. "Robin Ransom Vannoy". Your Missouri Judges. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  12. Ballentine, Summer (May 24, 2021). "Governor appoints 1st Black woman to Missouri Supreme Court". ABC News. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  13. Maag, Brittony (May 28, 2021). "Missouri governor appoints Robin Ransom to state supreme court". Ballotpedia News. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  • Robin Ransom on the Missouri Supreme Court website
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  • Robin Ransom at Your Missouri Judges
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