Associate Circuit Judge, Division 27, 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County)

Kea S. Bird-Riley serves as Associate Circuit Judge, Division 27, of the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County¹. Kea S. Bird-Riley is up for a yes or no retention vote on Nov 3, 2026, and stays on the bench if a majority votes yes³². The Judicial Performance Review committee recommends that the judge should be retained¹.

• Associate Circuit Judge, 16th Judicial Circuit Court, since December 2020¹
• Before appointment: Family Court Commissioner; associate attorney at Krigel and Krigel and at Stauffer and Nathan; staff attorney at Jackson County CASA; clerked for Judge Charles E. Atwell¹
• Bachelor's from Mississippi College and law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City¹
• Appointed to the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in December 2020 under the Missouri Plan (nominated by a judicial commission, selected by the governor)¹².
• Bar poll: The Judicial Performance Review committee recommends that the judge should be retained.