It was announced today that Missouri Supreme Court Judge Richard B. Teitelman has died at the age of 69.
Teitelman was first appointed to Missouri's highest court in February of 2002. His 12-year term on the bench, retained in 2004, expired at the end of the year but was again retained in the 2016 election. He also served a two-year term as chief justice from July 2011 to June 2013.
Teitelman was the first legally blind judge to serve on the Missouri Supreme Court, as well as its first Jewish judge. He was born in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969. He moved to Missouri to attend law school at Washington University.
"Judge Teitelman was truly a spectacular judge, friend, counselor, and advisor," said Nancy Staudt, dean of Washington University School of Law, where Teitelman served as a member of the advisory board. "He was always helping us find ways to do better and be better."
Teitelman and other Supreme Court judges spoke to the law school's 150th class in August. "He gave a spectacular speech about being committed and caring about what you do and giving back to the world," Staudt recalled.
In a statement released today, Gov. Jay Nixon said, "Judge Teitelman will be remembered not only for his breaking new ground as the first legally blind judge to sit on Missouri’s highest court, but also for his legal skills and his passion for justice. He truly listened to, and never forgot, those who needed justice the most. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.”
Before his appointment to the Missouri Supreme Court, Teitelman served at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri from 1975 to 1998, where he worked alongside attorney Rod Powell for about 11 years. Powell, now president of The Powell Law Firm in Des Moines, Iowa, also spent time with Teitelman outside of work, giving him rides to the office and often dining together. Powell says Teitelman was a true leader and pioneer in the legal services field.
"I remember him as being a very caring person—someone who I was pleased to call a friend and a colleague. I believe that he was somebody whom every lawyer should look up to," Powell said. "He was always open to innovation and efforts to make things work better. He was a true advocate for justice for all people and making the legal system available for everybody."
The nonpartisan Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission will help fill the vacancy in the state's Supreme Court. Chaired by Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge, the commission accepts applications from lawyers and interviews before submitting three qualified candidates to the governor for appointment. That decision could fall to current Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon or Gov.-elect Eric Greitens, who will take office in January.
Greitens issued a statement calling Teitelman a trailblazer whose "life serves as a reminder to every Missourian that nothing should stand in the way of passionate public service. He was a man known for his kindness and warm spirit, and he will be greatly missed."
