By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – On Sunday, Laura Denvir Stith will become the second woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court.
Former Governor Bob Holden appointed her to the state's highest court in 2001, and she was retained by voters a year later to serve a 12-year term.
Despite a media perception of leaning to the left, Stith says she's non-partisan.
"I'm a judge, a judge of Missouri, who looks at the law, who looks at the facts, and tries to decide the case based on that law and based on those facts," Stith said. "I don't decide it based upon any label or preexisting idea of what a result should be."
Stith also said she wants to improve access to the state's legal system for the underprivileged, and wants to see schools to teach kids about how Missouri's court system works.
She will succeed Michael Wolff, whose 2-year term as Chief Justice is ending.