Three people have been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals in Kansas City. This followed a series of interviews held on Monday, February 25th by the Appellate Judicial Commission.

After more than four hours of public interviews, two hours of deliberation, and five rounds of balloting, the nominees were named as: Judge Anthony Rex Gabbert of Kansas City; John Miller, an attorney in Kansas City; and Harold "Skip" Walther, an attorney from Columbia.

Gabbert is a judge from the 7th District in Clay County. Daviess County Associate Circuit Court Judge Daren Atkins was on the list of people that the Appellate Judicial Commission planned to interview.

The governor has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. Should he fail to do so, the Missouri constitution directs the commission to make the appointment. This vacancy exists due to the January retirement of Judge James Smart, who served a total of 21 years as an appellate judge.