An attorney who had served as counsel for several area cities will transition to the bench following an appointment this week from the Governor’s office.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that Todd Smith would become the next Associate Circuit Judge for St François County. Smith is an attorney for Lauber Municipal Law, which handles the legal services of several area cities, including Sedalia, Lexington, and New Franklin. He previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Miller County and was a candidate for an associate circuit judge position in Cole County in 2020.

Smith will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Joseph Murray II to the circuit bench.