Historical November 1995 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Angela Turner, resident of the Nina Place condominiums, is a woman of determination and perseverance. Long hard work paid off for her when she was named by Governor Mel Carnahan to be an Associate Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Turner was born in Miami and moved with her family to St. Louis in 1972 when her father was transferred here.
The family lived in Hazelwood and she originally attended Hazelwood West Senior High.
She completed the 12th grade at Florissant Valley Community College and received an Associate of Arts degree there in 1979.
She took pre-law courses.
She had wanted to be a lawyer since the age of 12.
She then went to the University of Missouri-Columbia where sheearned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in business administration.
She then attended St. Louis University Law School and graduated in 1984. Turner initially worked at the Missouri Department of Revenue as a trial de nova attorney.
She deal with driver’s license suspensions and revocations, DWIs, and appeals.
This position was not as challenging as she wanted.
She really wanted to be in the courtroom, doing a lot of trial work.
She then went to work at the Missouri Public Service Commission in Jefferson City.
She did utility regulation for little over a year but did not enjoy living in Jefferson City.
She returned to St. Louis and began working at the Circuit Attorney’s office.
She was a prosecutor there from 1985 to 1991.
She gained a lot of trial experience and handled everything from misdemeanors to murder.
She enjoyed it immensely.
In the summer of 1991 she put in an application for a judicial appointment.
The Chief Judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals told her that she had excellent criminal experience but needed civil experience.
She then went to work for the St. Louis city counselor’s office until 1994.
She did civil litigation, prisoners rights, personal injury, and cases for the Board of Police Commissioners.
A friend from the Circuit Attorney’s office now working for the U.S. Attorney asked if she would like a job there.
She became an assistant U.S. attorney until she received a call from the governor on February 28, 1995.
She was sworn in on March 31.
From March of 1991 until she was selected, she applied 8 or 9 times for judgeships.
She continually took jobs that would enhance her qualifications for sitting on the bench. Turner said that she had “no deferred dreams in her life.
If I had a dream, I went for it.” Turner is presently assigned to Division 26 Criminal for misdemeanors and traffic cases.
She handles dockets every morning, between 100 and 300 cases per day.
In the afternoon, she officiates at trials of crimes such as stealing, assault, or sexual misconduct.
She loves this new job and says there is never a dull moment in her courtroom.
In fact, she would like to be elevated to the circuit bench.
She sat in for Judge Michael David for two weeks while he was on vacation.
She took pleas on robberies and tried a murder.
In her spare time, Turner spends many hours working with youth.
She said, “It doesn’t matter what environment you come from. You can set goals and do them.” She often explains the judicial system, emphasizing the positive part of it. Recently, she was a grand marshal at the Annie Malone Home parade.
She liked the bystanders who shouted encouraging words. Turner became a resident of the City of St. Louis in 1981 when she was attending law school.
She lived in the old Del Coronado.
When she returned from living in Jefferson City, she wanted to be in the city again.
She bought her condominium in June of 1990 and was glad to be in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood. “Here there are residents and homemakers who care about their property and the police protection is good.
The aldermen and representatives care.” She used to fear city living and had lived in the county. “Now you couldn’t pay me to go back.” We’ll certainly be hearing more things about Angela Turner in the years to come.
Original photograph caption
Angela Turner. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1995.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1995_11.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
