Congratulations to the Honorable Judge Ginger Gooch, Class of 2012, who was appointed as the newest judge on the Missouri Supreme Court by Governor Mike Parson. Judge Gooch is the seventh woman to be appointed to the state’s highest court, making this the first time the high court in Missouri’s history has a majority of female justices. Judge Gooch also makes history as the first justice to be appointed from the Springfield area in over 100 years.

Governor Mike Parson is quoted as saying: “Judge Gooch has known the value of hard work her whole life. She is a loving mother, dedicated wife, and proud woman of faith who we know will make a great addition to our state’s highest court,” Governor Parson said. “With her appointment, our third to the Court, we have truly reshaped the makeup of the Missouri Supreme Court for decades to come.”

Judge Gooch earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Columbia School of Law in 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy, law, and rhetoric from Stephens College in 1997. After Graduating from law school, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ann Covington – the first female justice of the Missouri Supreme Court. For the next 15 years she worked as a Partner with Husch Blackwell LLP in Springfield, MO, until she was appointed by Governor Parson to serve on the Southern District Court of Appeals in 2022.

Congratulations Judge Gooch! We are so excited for you and thank you for your service to the State of Missouri.