St. Louis, Mo ( KTRS )  Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed a St. Louis attorney to serve as a judge for the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Gov. Nixon has announced that James M. Dowd of Webster Groves, will replace Judge Glenn Norton, who retired in February.

Dowd is principal attorney at The James M. Dowd Law Firm and has worked as a St. Louis lawyer for more than two decades. He previously served as a law clerk for the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Dowd faces a retention election after serving at least one year. Voters will soon decide whether he stays a full term.