Missouri Supreme Court Justice Richard Teitelman has died

The Missouri Supreme Court has announced that 69 year-old Justice Richard Teitelman has died.

Teitelman was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2002, was retained to the bench in the November 2004 election for a 12 year term expiring December 31, 2016. Teitelman was just retained to the bench by Missouri voters November 8th.

Teitelman served a two-year term as Chief Justice between 2011 and 2013.

Governor Jay Nixon released the following statement about Justice Teitelman, “Missourians have lost a judicial leader who dedicated his life over more than four decades in service to the people of this state and to our legal system, both as a Judge of the Missouri Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals and during a long career with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Judge Teitelman will be remembered not only for his breaking new ground as the first legally blind judge to sit on Missouri’s highest court, but also for his legal skills and his passion for justice. He truly listened to, and never forgot, those who needed justice the most. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.”

Funeral arrangements are currently pending.