State rep considering next career move

State Rep. Rachel Bringer, D-Palmyra, was brightly attired during a state bill signing ceremony at Hannibal City Hall Thursday. But in the future, Bringer could be found dressed in black as she considers seeking a judgeship when her career in the Missouri House concludes.
“If nothing dramatic changes between now and 2012 I plan to run for circuit judge. It will be an open race so I’m very excited about that opportunity,” she said. “I’ve wanted to be a judge for a very, very long time.”
Bringer is an attorney. She served as the assistant prosecutor in Marion County from 2000-02 and was a law clerk for Judge James Reinhard with the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District from 1995-97.
The 37-year-old Bringer, who has a private law practice in Palmyra, is considering a career change since she will be term limited out of the Missouri House in December 2010.
Bringer’s continuing desire to serve the people of Northeast Missouri has fueled her consideration of running for the bench.
“I think this is going to be a really unique opportunity to be able to serve Marion, Ralls and Monroe counties in a different way,” she said. “I’ve really been so grateful for the opportunity to serve in the state legislature from Marion and Ralls counties. I’ve learned so much and it’s just been such a privilege to be able to serve. I would be very grateful for the opportunity to serve in a different way in 2012.”
Bringer believes her professional background has helped prepare her to be an effective judge.
“I think all the different capacities I’ve had the opportunity to serve in have all been such great experiences in terms of what I’m doing now and what I get to do in the future,” she said. “Working in the prosecutor’s office and being in court a lot with that, working in a private practice, working with individual families in all types of legal matters, and now working in the legislature and really seeing how state government works and how we can make state government work better for individual Northeast Missourians, I think all those experiences have been wonderful building blocks for the future.”