Breckenridge announces first woman clerk of supreme court

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Following her humorous tribute to retiring Presiding Circuit Court Judge James Bickel, the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, Patricia Breckenridge was asked about the content of her impending State of the Court address to the Missouri General Assembly, later this month.

After speaking about possible new rules for municipal courts, Breckenridge mentioned the court's first woman serving as clerk of the Supreme Court of Missouri.

"Her name is Betsy Ledgerwood AuBuchon and she begins her new job on Jan.1," Breckenridge said.

Asked where she came from, Breckenridge said AuBuchon was already working for the court.

AuBuchon was hired in January 2012 as commission counsel for the state's Judicial Finance Commission and legislative liaison and promoted nine months later to the newly created position of director of government relations and deputy counsel.

In her most recent position, AuBuchon has aided in everything from guiding budget negotiations for the judiciary to helping schedule cases for argument to helping oversee death penalty cases.

"During her time at the Supreme Court, Betsy AuBuchon has impressed everyone with her integrity, judgement and knowledge," said Breckenridge. "She has earned the respect and trust of those with whom she has worked and is invaluable to the courts."

A native of Alton, in southern Missouri, AuBuchon earned three degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia -- her bachelor of science in agriculture journalism in 1997, her master of health administration and her law degree, both in 2000.

AuBuchon worked as a consultant and general counsel for Behavioral Health Concepts, Inc. before serving more than a decade as a governmental consultant in the private sector.

The duties of the clerk's staff include handling requests from attorneys across the state, scheduling and maintaining cases before the court, handling fees as well as printing and distributing opinions of the court.

The security and maintenance of the Supreme Court Building and its 110,000-volume library are also the responsibility of the clerk's office.

"The Court is grateful to have her as clerk and is confident she will be an exceptional leader of Missouri's judicial system," Breckenridge said.