Kehoe appoints Ashland attorney Todd Smith to 24th Judicial Court

Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Todd Smith as the associate circuit judge to the 24th Judicial Circuit in St. Francois County on Jan. 21, ending his time as Ashland’s city attorney and prosecutor.

Smith worked with Lauber Municipal Law to provide legal counsel to several Missouri cities, including Ashland.

Originally from Farmington, Smith worked at Lauber Municipal Law’s Jefferson City office alongside two other attorneys.

Ashland City Administrator Kyle Michel said the city’s contract with the law firm to provide a city attorney and city prosecutor will continue. Nathan Nickolaus, another Lauber attorney in Jefferson City, previously served as Ashland’s city attorney and prosecutor, and he has already taken over following Smith’s exit.

Smith will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Joseph Murray III to the circuit bench, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“While we will miss working with him, we are proud of his accomplishments,” the law firm wrote in a LinkedIn post wishing Smith luck.