Hon. Margaret Donnelly

21st Judicial Circuit

Hon. Margaret Donnelly was appointed circuit judge in August, 2016, by Gov. Jeremiah W. "Jay" Nixon. She was a St. Louis County Family Court commissioner from 2013 until her appointment as circuit judge.

Judge Donnelly holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Social Work degrees from Saint Louis University and graduated cum laude from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1988. From 1988 to 2009, she was engaged in the private practice of law. She served in the Missouri Legislature as a state representative for District 73 from 2003 to 2009 and was the Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services from 2009 to 2012.

Judge Donnelly has been honored for service by the Missouri Judicial Conference and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. She received the Women's Justice Citizenship Award, St. Louis Children's Hospital Advocate of the Year award, and Paraquad Disability Rights Legislative Leadership Award.  She is a member of the Missouri Bar, St. Louis County Bar Association, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Women Lawyers' Association and Mound City Bar Association.

Judge Donnelly lives in St. Louis County with her family.