First Woman Begins Serving as Supreme Court of Missouri Clerk
Friday, January 6, 2017
Contact: Beth S. Riggert
Communications Counsel
Supreme Court of Missouri
(573) 751-3676
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6 January 2017
Online at this link.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Effective January 1, Betsy Ledgerwood AuBuchon has
become the first woman to serve as clerk of the Supreme Court of Missouri
and only the sixth person to hold the position in the last century.
“I am grateful and very humbled about the opportunity the Court has given
me to serve a government I love and believe in,” AuBuchon said. “I visited
Jefferson City for the first time with my grandmother for the Sophomore
Pilgrimage, and it was one of the most memorable days of my life. Never
could I have dreamed I would end up working in state government, let alone
serving as clerk of the Supreme Court.”
A native of Alton, in southern Missouri, AuBuchon earned three degrees from
the University of Missouri-Columbia – her bachelor of science in
agricultural journalism in 1997 and her master of health administration and
her law degree, both in 2000. She worked as a consultant and general
counsel for Behavioral Health Concepts Inc. before serving more than a
decade as a governmental consultant in the private sector.
The Court hired AuBuchon in January 2012 as commission counsel for the
state’s Judicial Finance Commission and legislative liaison and promoted
her nine months later to the newly created position of director of
government relations and deputy counsel. In that role, she has aided in
everything from guiding budget negotiations for the judiciary to helping to
schedule cases for argument to helping to oversee death penalty cases.
“During her time at the Supreme Court, Betsy AuBuchon has impressed
everyone with her integrity, judgment and knowledge,” Chief Justice
Patricia Breckenridge said. “She has earned the respect and trust of those
with whom she has worked and is invaluable to the courts. The Court is
grateful to have her as clerk and is confident that she will be an
exceptional leader of Missouri’s judicial system.”
As clerk, AuBuchon succeeds Bill L. Thompson, who retired December 31 after
nearly five years in that position and more than three decades as the
Court’s counsel. Previous clerks include:
* Thomas F. Simon, who served from January 1972 through May 2011;
* Marion Spicer, who served from August 1943 through December 1971;
* Eppa F. Elliott, who served from July 1933 until his death in August
1943; and
* Jacob D. Allen, who served from April 1910 until July 1933.
AuBuchon and her husband, Rich, live in Jefferson City with their four
children, Maddie, Anna, Scarlett and Connor.
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