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Panel Sent to Governor Nixon

The 31st Circuit Judicial Commission has announced its panel of nominees for the position created by the retirement of Judge Mark Fitzsimmons, who will be stepping down from the bench at the end of this month. Yesterday, October 1, the Commission interviewed  sixteen applicants for the Greene County Associate Judge position. Following the interviews, the commission met and selected SMBA members Andy Hosmer and the Hon. Becky Borthwick. Hosmer is with the Springfield firm of Hosmer, King and Royce, and Borthwick is a Municipal Judge for the City of Springfield. Also selected for the panel was Randy Eggert, who is an assistant U.S. Attorney. The panel of Hosmer, Borthwick and Eggert has been submitted to the governor. Governor Nixon has 60 days to select the new judge under the nonpartisan court plan. Yesterday's interviews and selection by the commission is only the second time the nonpartisan court plan has been implemented in Greene County since voters approved this new judicial selection process in 2008. The commission consists of the Honorable Bill Francis, presiding judge of the Southern District, lawyers Steve Garner and Andy Bennett and non-lawyers Steve Stepp and Linda Fowler.