Associate Circuit Judge

2010

Judge Clifford presides over a civil associate circuit division. He was appointed associate circuit judge in 1982. He was elected magistrate judge of St. Louis County in 1978, and served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County from 1975 until 1978. He was in private practice until 1975.

Judge Clifford is a member of The Missouri Bar, the St. Louis County Bar Association, the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges, and the Missouri Municipal and Associate Circuit Judges Association. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a member of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Inc.

Attorneys were asked to rate judges on several categories on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. More than 300 attorneys rated Judge Clifford, and of 18 areas surveyed, 11 of Judge Clifford’s ratings were in the 3.14 to 3.27 range. His three highest scores were received for maintaining proper order and decorum in the courtroom (3.51), understanding rules of procedure and evidence (3.45), and issuing timely decisions (3.44). His three lowest scores on the attorney surveys were in the following areas: demonstrating appropriate demeanor on the bench (2.83), stating reasons and consistently applying substantive law in rulings on dispositive motions (3.02), and weighing all evidence fairly and impartially before rendering a decision (3.05). The committee believes any rating below 3.00 indicates a need for improvement.

Judge Clifford did not submit any written opinions for the committee to consider.