Preceded by Richard B. Teitelman Preceded by William Duane Benton Religion Episcopal Role Justice | Appointed by Bob Holden Spouse(s) Jim Russell Name Mary Russell | |
Born July 28, 1958 (age 65)
Hannibal, Missouri, U.S. ( 1958-07-28 ) Alma mater Northeast Missouri State University
University of Missouri School of Law Education Truman State University, University of Missouri School of Law, University of Missouri | ||
Mary Rhodes Russell (born July 28, 1958, Hannibal, Missouri) is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She assumed the position on July 1, 2013, upon the conclusion of the two year term of her predecessor, Richard B. Teitelman. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2004 by Governor Bob Holden, a Democrat.
In 1980 she graduated summa cum laude from Northeast Missouri State University and received her law degree in 1983 from the University of Missouri. She served as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Missouri before entering private practice in Hannibal.
She served on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, from 1994 to 2004 and was its chief judge from 1999 to 2000.
She is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma National Sorority.