Paula Perkins Bryant 22nd Judicial Circuit (St. Louis City)

Recommendations

The 22nd Circuit Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee recommends that Judge Paula Perkins Bryant BE RETAINED.

Position

Associate Circuit Judge

Evaluation Year

2014

Background

Judge Paula Perkins Bryant was appointed as an associate circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit in 2004 and retained in 2006 and 2010. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law.

Judge Bryant has served in the Family Court, criminal misdemeanor trial divisions and felony arraignment and preliminary hearing divisions of the 22nd Circuit Court. She developed a Jail Diversion Docket in Division 14 and an innovative use of GPS monitoring of criminal defendants in Division 25. She is a member of the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges, the Mound City Bar Association, the Women Lawyers Association of Greater St. Louis and the Lawyers Association of St. Louis.

She is active in a breast cancer awareness group known as The Breakfast Club and remains an active member of Phi Delta Delta Law Fraternity and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Discussion

On survey responses from lawyers who had appeared before Judge Bryant, her ratings on 17 categories ranged from 2.84 to 3.87 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 representing “Strongly Disagree” and 5 representing “Strongly Agree.”

Staff members who served in Judge Bryant’s courtroom answered a survey and all gave Judge Bryant excellent reviews emphasizing her efficient use of time, her innovative approach in Family Court, and her dedication and hard work as evidenced by trying more than 30 jury trials in one year. She is thoughtful and courteous to the staff and citizens that appear in her court.

The evaluation committee found Judge Bryant’s written orders to be well-supported by the law and facts reflecting sound reasoning.