Gravett Makes History as First Female Presiding Judge of 1st Judicial Circuit
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By Mike Scott
NEMOnews Media Group
LANCASTER, Mo. — Surrounded by family, colleagues and a legacy of judicial excellence, Lindsay Gravett was sworn in Friday afternoon as the first female presiding judge of the 1st Judicial Circuit of Missouri.
The ceremony, held in the Lancaster courthouse, marked a historic moment not only for Gravett, but for the rural northeast Missouri community she has called home her entire life.
“I’m from Lancaster originally, lived here my whole entire life,” Gravett said. A 2002 graduate of Schuyler R-1 High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Missouri Valley College in 2006. She worked as a legal secretary at Pepper Law Office in Memphis, Missouri, before attending Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. After graduating in 2010, she passed the Missouri Bar in 2011 and began her legal career in private practice.
In 2013, Gravett was elected prosecuting attorney for Schuyler County and served in that role until her judicial appointment. She was also appointed Clark County prosecutor in January 2023 to fill a vacancy and held both positions until resigning to accept her judgeship.
The path to the bench began with the retirement of Judge Rick Roberts. The vacancy was posted on the governor’s website, and Gravett applied. After undergoing an interview and selection process, she was appointed by the Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe to serve as presiding circuit judge.
Her appointment was both historic and hard-earned, according to Roberts, who administered the oath and offered heartfelt remarks before doing so.
“Now, we’ve heard a lot of talk about how historic this is, because you’re the first woman to ever serve as the presiding circuit judge of the circuit,” Roberts said. “But you’re not here because you’re a woman. You weren’t picked for that. You’re here because you’re qualified.”
Roberts reflected on watching Gravett grow as a professional from her earliest days after law school.
“I watched you learn. I watched you fail. I watched you succeed. But the one thing that I did notice — you never quit,” he said. “You have the stellar requirements for this job — honesty, integrity and fairness.”
He said he had recommended Gravett for the position based on her commitment to doing what is right. “More than once I’ve seen you lose a case because it was the right thing to do,” he said. “Because you upheld the right of law. And you did that consistently through your entire career.”
Gravett said she is honored to follow in Roberts’ footsteps and recognizes the weight of the role.
“You know what? I’ve been really fortunate to be surrounded by very professional and educated judges, whether they be the associate judge, Judge Dial, Judge Roberts,” she said. “A lot of my practice style — and hopefully my judge style — is going to mimic that of Judge Roberts and Judge Dial.”
Though she admitted to feeling some nerves, Gravett said she is ready to get to work. “It’s going to be a little shaky at the onset just because I’ve never been in this position, but I am excited to hit the ground running and start immediately.”
Gravett’s family includes her parents, Dennis and Janice Gravett of Lancaster; sisters Tammy and Tacey; and nieces Sophie and Madeline.
The oath administered Friday did more than signify a change in leadership — it marked a new chapter in the history of Missouri’s 1st Judicial Circuit, and a milestone for a hometown daughter who rose through the legal ranks by hard work, determination and heart.
