Judge Grimm ready to return to law firm

It was an unexpected decision from a man who went very far, very fast in his chosen career of politics and law.

But now he has decided to change directions.

At age 40, Circuit Judge John W. Grimm of Cape Girardeau has opted to leave the bench and return to private practice in the firm he left, Limbaugh, Russell, Payne & Howard. He will do so effective Feb. 28.

He became a judge in 1993 when Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed him to fill the resigning A.J. Seier's unfinished term. Grimm was elected in 1994 and then ran without opposition in 2000 for another six-year term.

Grimm said he wanted to make the career change before he got any older.

In his nine years as judge, Grimm earned the respect of prosecutors and defense lawyers alike. Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said anyone who had such a career on the bench would make an outstanding lawyer in the private sector.

A humble Grimm's observation was that he may not have made the perfect decision in every case over the years, but he's always sought advice and carefully considered every last one of them.

No doubt such a individual would be successful in anything he set his hand to.