John Ross (Missouri)

John A. Ross is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He was nominated by President Barack Obama (D) in December 2010.^[1] Prior to becoming a federal judge, Ross was a circuit court judge for the 21st Circuit Court in Missouri.^[2]

Ross assumed senior status on June 9, 2023.^[3]

Early life and education

Allen received a B.A. from Emory University in 1976 and a J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law in 1979.^[4][2]

Professional career

• 2000-2011: Circuit judge, Missouri 21st Judicial Circuit Court

2009-2011: Presiding Judge

2005-2009: Assistant Presiding Judge

• County counselor, St. Louis County
• 1979-1991: Assistant county prosecuting attorney, St. Louis
• 1989: Special assistant attorney genera, St. Louis County
• 1984: Special assistant attorney general, Office of the Attorney General

Judicial career

Eastern District of Missouri

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
Name: John A. Ross
Court: Eastern District of Missouri
Progress
Confirmed 293 days after nomination.
ANominated: 12/1/2010
AABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
AHearing: 5/4/2011
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
AReported:
AConfirmed: 9/20/2011

Judge Ross was nominated to serve on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on December 1, 2010.^[4]

Ross' nomination was returned to the President at the end of the 111th Congress. President Obama resubmitted the nomination on January 5, 2011.

Ross was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association. He had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 4, 2011 and you can find his Committee Questionnaire available here and his Questions for the Record available here.

Ross' nomination was confirmed by the Senate by a voice vote on September 20, 2011.^[5] Ross assumed senior status on June 9, 2023.^[6]

Opposition to nomination

Congressman Lacy Clay opposed the nomination, due to Judge Ross' decision (as a Missouri Circuit Court judge) to put the Northeast Fire District's finances under court control after the district allegedly made improper payments and violated Missouri's open meetings law.^[7] In a letter to President Obama, Congressman Clay accused Ross of "judicial activism and blatant unfairness" for this decision.^[7] Obama commented on the nomination, stating, "These outstanding candidates have shown an unwavering commitment to justice throughout their careers. They all have long and distinguished records of service, and I am pleased to nominate them to continue serving the American people on the District Court bench."

State Impeachment filed against Ross

In May 2011, Missouri Representative Rochelle Gray sponsored HR 3102 to begin impeachment proceedings against Ross. He is accused of violating the Missouri Constitution. Specifically, he is charged with "judicial activism" and racial discrimination.^[8]

See also

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

External links

• Biography from Federal Judicial Center

Footnotes

v • e Federal judges who have served the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Active judges	Chief Judge: Stephen Clark (Missouri)   •  Henry Autrey  •  Brian C. Wimes  •  Ronnie L. White  •  Sarah Pitlyk  •  Matthew Schelp
Senior judges	Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.  •  Jean Hamilton  •  Catherine Perry  •  E. Richard Webber  •  Rodney Sippel  •  Edward Filippine  •  Nanette Laughrey  •  Audrey Fleissig  •  John Ross (Missouri)  •
Magistrate judges	Patricia Cohen  •  Joseph S. Dueker  •  Shirley Mensah  •  Abbie S. Crites-Leoni  •  Noelle C. Collins  •  John Bodenhausen  •  Stephen Welby  •  Rodney Holmes  •
Former Article III judges	Carol Jackson  •  Charles Shaw (Missouri)  •  Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr.  •  Donald Stohr  •  John Nangle  •  Samuel Treat  •  Elmer Bragg Adams  •  Henry Samuel Priest  •  Amos Madden Thayer  •  David Patterson Dyer  •  Gustavus Adolphus Finkelnburg  •  Charles Breckenridge Faris  •  Roy Winfield Harper  •  Charles B. Davis (Missouri federal judge)  •  George Moore (Missouri)  •  John Collet  •  William Webster  •  Clyde Cahill  •  William Collinson  •  Richard Duncan (Missouri)  •  Joseph Stevens (Missouri)  •  Harris Wangelin  •  George Gunn  •  Rubey Hulen  •  William Hungate  •  James Meredith (Missouri)  •  John Regan  •  Randolph Weber  •
Former Chief judges	Carol Jackson  •  Jean Hamilton  •  Catherine Perry  •  Rodney Sippel  •  Edward Filippine  •  John Nangle  •  Roy Winfield Harper  •  George Moore (Missouri)  •  Harris Wangelin  •  James Meredith (Missouri)  •

v • e Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama
Nominated	Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama