For Boone County voters, the Division IX associate circuit judge race is a rare contested judicial race in the Nov. 3 general election. Many of the other judicial positions are uncontested.
Republican James Egan will face Democrat Bill Ellis to replace Tracy Gonzalez following her retirement from the Division IX associate circuit judge position she has held since her election in 2018.
This position is for the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, which serves both Boone and Callaway counties. Division IX currently oversees criminal and juvenile cases in Boone County, but is not required to.
The circuit’s presiding judge decides which cases a division handles. The current presiding judge is Joshua DeVine, but he will be replaced by new presiding judge Stephenie Morrell. The presiding judge is elected by the other judges in the circuit court to oversee staff, set court dockets and take care of other administrative matters for a two-year term.
Both candidates have over 20 years of experience practicing law and said they plan to finish their careers in this position if they were to win.
James Egan
Egan has spent over 20 years as a public defender in Missouri. He wants to fix inefficiencies he’s seen along the way. He said he has a plan for a night court for two to three nights per week to lower the number of inmates in Boone County Jail.
“We have a serious overcrowding issue in Boone County Jail,” Egan said. “What I’d like to do is start addressing inmate cases in an evening docket to deal with arraignments, probation violations and guilty pleas.”
Although the division currently covers juvenile cases, it could change in the future. For example, Division X took on some juvenile cases until 2022. Egan said he is confident he can handle whatever cases are brought to him.
“We really don’t know what it’s gonna be, but if it remains a juvenile docket, I’m more than ready to take that on,” Egan said.
Egan has represented many children over his career from juvenile court to the Missouri Supreme Court.
“I’ve represented hundreds and hundreds of juveniles in delinquency matters, ranging from petty offenses all the way up to homicides,” Egan said.
Egan said he is a more qualified judicial candidate than Ellis through the work he has completed over his career.
“I believe that I have more trial experience than my opponent, and I think that’s very important for a judge,” Egan said. “I just think I have more experience overall with the legal process.”
Outside of the courtroom, Egan also has experience in the classroom.
“I was a teacher for eight years before I went to law school,” Egan said. “I worked with children in residential treatment who were victims of abuse and neglect.”
Egan would like to end his career in the judicial system as a Boone County judge.
“I’m just someone who has devoted my life to public service,” Egan said. “I just want to continue that by serving as an associate circuit judge.”
Bill Ellis
After 15 years representing children as a legal guardian, Bill Ellis said he wants to continue giving Boone County’s youth an honest opportunity.
“I think the number one, most important rule is to not lie to kids,” Ellis said. “When I’ve got juvenile clients and they’re there in the courtroom, I always try to involve them in the discussion with the judge.”
Ellis shared his devotion to juvenile law, but is prepared for other cases he could oversee if the division is reassigned. Outside of juvenile law, he has handled other types of cases throughout his career, including adult criminal cases, family law, probate and civil law.
“I hope and believe that it will remain juvenile,” Ellis said. “If it’s not juvenile, then it can be any number of other things that can come before associate circuit court. It can be adult criminal, which is fine. I’ve done that for 20 years.”
Ellis reaffirmed his confidence in his abilities to preside over different types of cases across Boone and Callaway counties.
“Whatever caseload I’m given, I believe in my ability to handle it,” Ellis said. “I’ve got substantial courtroom experience in all of it.”
Ellis said he keeps his political affiliation independent from his judicial decisions. He added that he will not “pre-judge” any issue that is presented to him.
“I have to apply the law — regardless of what the public wants — the way that the law is written,” Ellis said. “I have to apply the law independently of pressure from the community.”
Ellis is a Hickman High School graduate and a lifelong resident of Boone County. He attended the University of Missouri for his undergraduate degree and his doctorate of law.
“I genuinely love and care about Columbia,” Ellis said. “I don’t really have any interest in going anywhere else.”
Ellis wants his career’s work to show his ability to transition into a judicial position.
“I’d like to think that I’ve conducted myself with integrity and honesty,” Ellis said. “Hopefully, those that know me have confidence in me to continue to operate that way.”