Panel taps 3 judges as finalists for Mo. Supreme Court

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A selection commission has picked three judges as candidates to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Supreme Court.

The commission on Thursday gave Gov. Matt Blunt the option of appointing either Atchison County Associate Circuit Judge Zel Fischer or one of two judges on the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District -- Lisa White Hardwick or Ronald Holliger.

The seven-member Supreme Court has a vacancy because Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. resigned effective July 31 to accept a federal judgeship.

This will be Blunt's second appointment to the Supreme Court. He has 60 days to appoint one of the three nominees, or else the nominating commission will make the final choice.