Nominated by President Barack Obama on January 16, 2014, to a seat vacated by Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr.; Confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 16, 2014, received his federal judicial commission on December 19, 2014, and was sworn in on December 29, 2014. Missouri State University, B.S., Political Science, 1993 University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, J.D., 1997