Under any system of judicial selection, it takes some effort to get to know a judicial candidate. This is true whether the judge is running for election or standing for retention by the voters. In the retention election, The Missouri Bar for years has attempted to fill this information gap by surveying lawyers who appear before the judges who are on the ballot. The judges are rated on a number of factors – including knowledge of the law, courtesy and judicial temperament – and the results of the survey are publicized widely.

groups, political and civic leaders, and all interested

citizens can use their own First Amendment freedoms

to protest statements inconsistent with standards

of judicial neutrality and judicial excellence. Indeed, if

democracy is to fulfill its promise, they must do so.” Justice

Anthony Kennedy, concurring opinion, Republican

Party of Minnesota v. White, 536 U.S. 765 (2002)

Webster County Attorney Emily A. Prestidge has announced that she is seeking the office of Circuit Judge for the 30th Judicial Circuit.  The 30th Judicial Circuit is comprised of the counties of Benton, Dallas, Hickory, Polk and Webster.  The judgeship is currently held by Judge John W. “Bill” Sims who has announced his plans to retire at the end of his term in 2012.

Prestidge has served as an Assistant Greene County Prosecuting Attorney in Springfield, Missouri before opening her private practice in Marshfield, Missouri, where she focuses on Family, Criminal, Real Estate and Business Law.

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