Supreme Court of Missouri Chief Justice George W. Draper III recognized Judge Nathan Kelsaw from Dent County for participating in the judicial transfer program in the last fiscal year during a ceremony honoring exemplary service to the people of Missouri.
The ceremony was held Sept. 17 as part of the annual meeting of the Judicial Conference of Missouri, the organization of all state judges, in conjunction with the annual meeting of The Missouri Bar. Due to COVID-19 concerns and health precautions, this year’s meeting was held virtually.
The judicial transfer program maximizes efficient use of Missouri’s available judicial resources by allowing the presiding judge of a judicial circuit to ask the Supreme Court of Missouri to assign a judge from anywhere in the state to hear cases in the circuit. A transfer often is requested when local judges have recused from a case.
“The Court is pleased with the willingness of our judges to share their talents outside their home circuits,” Draper said. “I spent more than 15 years working in Missouri’s trial courts, first as a prosecutor and then as a judge, and I know first-hand how important it is for the people of our state to have their cases resolved efficiently, fairly and without undue delay. We appreciate all the much-needed assistance for our qualified, capable and experienced judges who travel outside their home counties to hear cases throughout the state, which helps our judiciary serve the public well.”
Kelsaw has served as Associate Circuit Judge of Dent County since Jan. 1, 2019. He previously worked as a private attorney, assistant Dent County prosecutor, assistant Texas County prosecutor and public defender. Kelsaw earned his bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University in 2005 in Springfield, and his law degree in 2010 from Saint Louis University.
