Zel Fischer
Encyclopedia
Zel M. Fischer is a Judge on the Supreme Court
of the U.S. state
of Missouri
. A native of Watson
, he received his undergraduate degree from William Jewell College
and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While at William Jewell College
he was a member of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order
. He was elected as a Republican to serve as Atchison County Judge in 2006 after private practice in Atchison, Nodaway and Holt counties for nearly 15 years.
Following the Missouri Plan
for the appointment of appellate judges in Missouri, Fischer was one of three candidates proposed to Governor Matt Blunt
by the state's Appellate Judicial Committee to replace Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.
Blunt announced his appointment of Fischer on October 15, 2008 on the grounds of the Atchison County, Missouri
Courthouse in Rock Port, Missouri
. He cited Fischer's judicial philosophy of strict interpretation of the state's constitution and laws as the reason for his selection. He was sworn-in as a Supreme Court judge on October 23, 2008.
Supreme Court of Missouri
The Supreme Court of Missouri is the highest court in the state of Missouri. It was established in 1820, and is located in Jefferson City, Missouri. Missouri voters have approved changes in the state's constitution to give the Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction- the sole legal power to hear -...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. A native of Watson
Watson, Missouri
Watson is a village in Nishnabotna Township, Atchison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 100 at the 2010 census. It is the westernmost settlement in the state of Missouri.-Geography:Watson is located at ....
, he received his undergraduate degree from William Jewell College
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...
and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While at William Jewell College
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...
he was a member of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
. He was elected as a Republican to serve as Atchison County Judge in 2006 after private practice in Atchison, Nodaway and Holt counties for nearly 15 years.
Following the Missouri Plan
Missouri Plan
The Missouri Plan is a method for the selection of judges. It originated in Missouri in 1940, and has been adopted by several states of the United States...
for the appointment of appellate judges in Missouri, Fischer was one of three candidates proposed to Governor Matt Blunt
Matt Blunt
Matthew Roy Blunt served as the 54th Governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. Before his election as governor, Blunt served ten years in the United States Navy, was elected to serve in the Missouri General Assembly in 1998 and as Missouri's Secretary of State in 2000.A Republican, Blunt was elected...
by the state's Appellate Judicial Committee to replace Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.
Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.
Stephen Nathaniel Limbaugh, Jr. is currently a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, having been confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 10, 2008. From 1992 to 2008, he served as a Judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri.He was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and is...
Blunt announced his appointment of Fischer on October 15, 2008 on the grounds of the Atchison County, Missouri
Atchison County, Missouri
Atchison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 5,685. Its county seat is Rock Port. The county was organized in 1845 and named for David Rice Atchison, U.S...
Courthouse in Rock Port, Missouri
Rock Port, Missouri
Rock Port is a city in Clay Township, Atchison County, Missouri, United States and the county seat of Atchison County. The population was 1,318 at the 2010 census...
. He cited Fischer's judicial philosophy of strict interpretation of the state's constitution and laws as the reason for his selection. He was sworn-in as a Supreme Court judge on October 23, 2008.
External links
- Ray Scherer (October 16, 2008). "Newest Justice Calls Atchison County Home". "St. Joseph News-Press"
- October 25, 2008. "Zel Fischer Informally Sworn in as Judge". "St. Joseph News-Press"
- Judge Zel Fischer on the Missouri Supreme Court website