Missouri Supreme Court will have new chief justice

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A Springfield, Mo., native will be the next chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court.

W. Brent Powell, who now lives in Kansas City, will replace current Chief Justice Mary R. Russell. Powell was appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court in 2017 and re-elected to a 12-year term in 2018.

Powell earned his undergraduate degree from William Jewell College in 1992, during which he also earned a varsity letter in football. He then earned his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia Law School.

Powell has extensive experience in law and trials. He served in the Platte County Prosecuting Attorney's office and the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of Missouri.