New Missouri Supreme Court judge ensures female majority on the bench

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson has appointed appeals court Judge Ginger Gooch to the state Supreme Court. Parson named Gooch to the high court Monday. She replaces Judge Patricia Breckenridge. Breckenridge is retiring. Gooch’s appointment means women will keep their historic four-member majority on the seven-member court. Gooch is from Springfield and previously served on the state’s Southern District Court of Appeals. She is Parson’s second appointment to the Supreme Court this year and his third since taking office in 2018.