FORUM FEATURES HIGH COURT JUDGES

Three Missouri Supreme Court judges will speak at a Public Issues Forum April 25 at Southeast Missouri State University.

The event, the third in a series of forums sponsored by the school, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Show Me Center meeting rooms.

A public reception will precede the forum at 7 p.m.

Judges Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., Edward D. Robertson Jr. and Ronnie White will participate in a panel discussion.

The event is free and open to the public.

Limbaugh, a native of Cape Girardeau, has served on the Supreme Court since August 1992.

Robertson, a former chief justice of the court, has served on the court since June 1985.

White is the first black to serve on the state's high court. Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed White to the court in October 1995. White served as a special judge of the Supreme Court from October 1994 to February 1995, before being appointed to the bench.

Jack Stapleton, managing editor of Missouri News and Editorial Services, is assisting with the forums.

He said the judges will discuss "where the court is going."

Stapleton said, "I think it will be helpful to see how the justices approach their duties today."

He said the judges likely will discuss a movement under way in Pike, Lincoln and Montgomery counties, in which groups of disgruntled residents are setting up common-law courts.