Chief Judge Rodney W. Sippel announced today that the District Judges for the United States District Court have selected Mr. Rodney H. Holmes and Hon. Joseph S. Dueker as the Court’s next United States Magistrate Judges. The selection was made by the District Judges from nominees submitted to them by a Merit Selection Panel consisting of attorneys and lay persons residing within the District.
Holmes is a 1997 graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law and has served since 2015 as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Eastern District of Missouri. He has been a supervisor in that office since 2018. Prior to service as an AUSA, Holmes worked in private practice from 2004-2015 handling a variety of matters, including federal criminal cases as a member of the Court’s Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel. He was a Research and Writing Attorney for the Federal Public Defender for Eastern Missouri from 1997-2002 and an AUSA from 2002-2004 before going into private practice.
Dueker is a 1992 graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law and has spent his legal career in public service. He is currently a Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit in St. Louis County. He was an Associate Circuit Judge from 2010-2016 and has been a Circuit Judge from 2016-present. Dueker previously served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County, trying numerous cases and culminating in his service as Associate Chief Trial Attorney within the office.
According to Chief Judge Sippel, the high quality of applicants made for a difficult decision, but a good outcome. Judge Sippel stated, “the Court is confident that both candidates meet the highest standard of judicial service and will contribute well to the administration of justice. My colleagues and I are pleased to welcome both Mr. Holmes and Judge Dueker to the federal bench.”
The term of office of a magistrate judge is eight years, with the opportunity to renew the appointment. Provided the official clearance process from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service is completed as expected within the next 120 days, the term of Mr. Holmes will begin immediately after the retirement of Judge Nannette A. Baker in February, and the term of Judge Dueker will begin immediately after the retirement of Judge David D. Noce in May, respectively. For further information, contact Clerk of Court Greg Linhares at greg_linhares@moed.uscourts.gov, or at 314-244-7890.