Northeast News
April 1, 2011
Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Kanatzer to the 16th Judicial Circuit as a circuit judge.

Kanatzer will fill the vacancy of Honorable Stephen Nixon, who retired. For 16 years, Kanatzer has worked in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office and has served as the county’s prosecuting attorney since 2007. He has worked as the primary prosecutor in a number of high profile cases, securing life sentences in the “Precious Doe” case, the trial of serial killer Lorenzo Gilyard, among others.

Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders congratulated Kanatzer, saying, “Just as he has done as Jackson County Prosecutor, he will serve the citizens of Missouri well in his new role as judge.”

Sanders will explain the process of naming Kanatzar’s replacement during the April 4 Jackson County Legislature meeting.

“I am pleased to appoint James Kanatzar to the bench in Jackson County, and I believe he will be an excellent judge for the people of this county,” Nixon said.