Former Missouri Court of Appeals judge dies

A former judge who served on the Missouri Court of Appeals’ Southern District died July 3 at age 80.

James Prewitt retired in December 2005 after working 26 years with the court, according to a news release.

After his retirement, Prewitt and wife Jean moved to Indian Wells, Calif., where she continues to reside, according to an obituary provided in an an e-newsletter sent to members of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association.

In addition to his work with the court, Prewitt:
    •    authored works in Missouri Law Review;
    •    worked as a lecturer for the Missouri Bar’s continuing legal education program;
    •    served 1969-74 as chairman of the city of Springfield’s board of air pollution appeals;
    •    helped redistrict the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate following the 2000 Census; and
    •    was a member of the Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges, the SMBA, Missouri Bar and the American Bar Association’s judicial administrative division.

Prewitt is survived by his wife and three daughters, Julie Kramschuster, Jill Smull and Janis Prewitt, as well as several grandchildren, according to his obituary. Janis Prewitt is an associate professor of management at Drury University, and her husband Tom Auner is a Springfield attorney.