Associate Circuit Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit (Clay County), Division 6

Karen L. Krauser has been an associate circuit judge in Clay County (7th Judicial Circuit, Division 6) since January 2012 and was previously Clay County's deputy chief prosecuting attorney¹. She is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot for a retention vote (yes or no)³. The Judicial Performance Review committee recommends that she be retained¹.

• Associate Circuit Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit Court (Clay County), Division 6, since January 2012¹
• Before the bench: Clay County Deputy Chief Prosecuting Attorney, and municipal judge of Excelsior Springs and Platte Woods¹
• University: Park College, now Park University (bachelor's); University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (J.D.)¹
• Appointed to the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in January 2012¹. Under Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan, judges are nominated by a judicial commission, selected by the governor, and must stand in a retention election after their first 12 months on the bench and at the end of each term². Her name is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot for a retention vote³.
• Bar poll: The Judicial Performance Review committee recommends that the judge should be retained.