Darrell Missey, a Jefferson County judge for the past 19 years, stepped down from the bench Dec. 29 to take a job as director of Missouri’s Children’s Division.
He was expected to start that job on Wednesday.
Missey, 54, said his new job is a perfect fit because of his interest in protecting children.
“From the beginning of my judicial career, I’ve been especially concerned about the child welfare system, and the opportunity to lead and improve practices in that area is very important to me,” Missey said. “I have always been motivated by helping families and helping kids who are in need.”
The Children’s Division, which operates under the Missouri Department of Social Services, administers child welfare services and works in partnership with families, communities, the courts and other government entities to ensure the safety and well-being of Missouri children, according to a written statement from the division.
Missey will replace Joan Rogers, who served as interim director of the Children’s Division and will remain with the agency as its deputy director. She filled the position after David Wood, a former state representative from Versailles, resigned from the job in September 2020.
Missey said he believes his legal background will help him run the Children’s Division, although legal experience is not a prerequisite for the job.
“I don’t think a director of the Children’s Division has ever had a law degree before, as far as I know,” he said. “It’s not required for the job.
“I think it’s going to help me a lot. I have a deep understanding of the juvenile code and child welfare statutes.”
Missey said he will be paid approximately the same salary in his new job as he was making as the Jefferson County Div. 2 Circuit Judge – a little more than $150,000.
Robert Knodell, acting director of the Missouri Department of Social Services, appointed Missey to the position.
“Judge Missey’s distinguished judicial career and longtime focus on child welfare issues will be invaluable in our Children’s Division moving forward,” Knodell said. “I am confident his vast experience and perspectives will help the division rise to meet the many challenges it faces.”
Gov. Mike Parson praised the selection.
“We are excited to welcome Judge Missey to the team,” Parson said. “Judge Missey not only brings years of experience in family and juvenile court matters, but he is also a proven statewide leader in child welfare. He is passionate about helping Missouri’s most vulnerable, and we look forward to utilizing his expertise in service to all Missourians.”
Missey was elected as a Jefferson County associate Circuit Court judge in 2002 and was assigned to the juvenile docket, which mostly involved foster care.
After he was elected as a county Circuit Court judge in 2014, he continued handling juvenile cases involving foster children, until he became presiding judge and administrative judge of the Family Court in 2016.
Missey currently is in his 15th year on the state Supreme Court’s Family Court Committee and he previously chaired Missouri’s Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative Replication Team. He served on the Children’s Services Commission and was a member of the Juvenile Detention Standards Review Committee.
Missey lives in Fenton with his wife, Andrea. They have three grown daughters.
He said he does not know if he will move from his current home.
“That’s still up in the air,” Missey said.
“The logistics are still up in the air. I certainly feel I’ll be working all over the state.”
Missey said his first order of business for his new job is to investigate the needs of those the Children’s Division serves.
“The first thing I’m going to do is a lot of listening in the different circuits (in the state) because I hear there are different practices in different parts of the state,” Missey said. “I want to bring more consistency.”
He said he looks forward to taking over his new duties.
“I’m very excited about the possibilities.”
Missey said the governor will appoint a replacement to fill his old 23rd Circuit Court judge position.