Missouri judge gets Senate OK for federal appeals court post

WASHINGTON -- Missouri Supreme Court Judge Duane Benton said Friday he expects to join the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the next few weeks.

Benton's nomination to the federal court was confirmed Thursday by the Senate.

Benton's family lived in Cape Girardeau from 1970 to 1988. Although he spent time away at school and serving in the military, he called the family house on Cape Rock Drive home during much of that period.

Benton has served on the state's highest court since 1991, when he was appointed by then-Gov. John Ashcroft, a Republican who is now the U.S. attorney general. Before that, Benton was Ashcroft's revenue director.

"To these positions, I believe it is imperative that the president nominate people of distinguished intellect and character with a breadth of legal experience," said Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo. "This standard has been far surpassed with the nomination of Judge Benton."

When Benton joins the federal court, he will also step down from the state Supreme Court. At that time, the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission will begin considering who should replace Benton on the Supreme Court.