Megan Benton
Megan Benton is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. She was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on January 5, 2026, and confirmed by the United States Senate on February 4, 2026, by a vote of 51-46.[1][2][3][4]To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Prior to joining the court, Benton was a judge on the Missouri 6th Judicial Circuit Court Division 6. Benton was appointed to the court on October 5, 2023, by Gov. Mike Parson (R).[5]
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri (2026-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On December 1, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Benton to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.[1] She was confirmed by a 51-46 vote of the U.S. Senate on February 4, 2026. Benton received commission on February 10, 2026.[4] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Megan Benton |
| Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 65 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: December 1, 2025
|
| ABA Rating: Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: [N/A Questionnaire] |
| Hearing: December 17, 2025
|
| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: January 15, 2026
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| Confirmed: February 4, 2026
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| Vote: 51-46
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Benton by a vote of 51-46 on February 4, 2026.[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Benton confirmation vote (February 4, 2026) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
0 | 44 | 1 | ||||||
 Republican |
51 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
 Independent |
0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 51[6] | 46 | 3 | ||||||
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Benton's nomination on December 17, 2025. Benton was reported to the full Senate on January 15, 2026, after a 12-10 committee vote.[7] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee vote.
Nomination
On December 1, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Megan Benton to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Benton's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2026.[8] The president renominated Benton on January 5, 2026.[3]
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Benton qualified.[9] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Benton was nominated to replace Judge M. Douglas Harpool, who will assume senior status upon Benton's commission.[2]
Biography
Early life and education
Benton was born in 1985 in Columbia, Missouri. She earned a bachelor's degree from Emory University in 2007 and a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2010.[4]
Professional career
- 2026-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- 2021-2026: Judge, Circuit Court of Missouri, Sixth Judicial Circuit
- 2023-2026: circuit judge
- 2021-2023: associate circuit judge
- 2014-2017, 2019-2021: Assistant prosecuting attorney, Platte County, Missouri
- 2012-2014: Private practice, Kansas City, Missouri
- 2011-2012: Law clerk, Hon. Ralph W. Dau and Hon. Barbara M. Scheper, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles[4][10]
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Platte County, Missouri (2024)
Missouri 6th Judicial Circuit Court Division 6, Megan Benton's seat
Megan Benton was retained to Division 6 of the Missouri 6th Judicial Circuit Court on November 5, 2024 with 68.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
68.6
|
34,385 | ||
No |
31.4
|
15,715 | |||
Total Votes |
50,100 | ||||
|
|
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Benton in this election.
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Platte County, Missouri (2022)
Missouri 6th Judicial Circuit Court Division 4 Associate Judge
Megan Benton was retained to Division 4 of the Missouri 6th Judicial Associate Circuit Court on November 8, 2022 with 71.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
71.1
|
25,298 | ||
No |
28.9
|
10,261 | |||
Total Votes |
35,559 | ||||
|
|
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Megan Benton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Megan Benton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
About the court
| Western District of Missouri |
|---|
| Eighth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 7 |
| Judges: 7 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Brian C. Wimes |
| Active judges: Megan Benton, Stephen R. Bough, Joshua Divine, David Kays, Roseann A. Ketchmark, Mary Elizabeth Phillips, Brian C. Wimes Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is one of 94 United States district courts.[11] Courthouses are located in Kansas City, Jefferson City, and Springfield.[12] When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, based in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse and Building. The Western District of Missouri has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
There are five court divisions, each covering the following counties:
The Western Division, covering Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Ray, St. Clair, and Saline counties.
The Central Division, covering Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Hickory, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, and Pettis counties.
The Southern Division, covering Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Laclede, Oregon, Ozark, Polk, Pulaski, Taney, Texas, Webster, and Wright counties.
The St. Joseph Division, covering Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Sullivan, and Worth counties.
The Southwestern Division, covering Barry, Barton, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Stone, and Vernon counties.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
2024 Elections
External links
- United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," December 1, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Congress.Gov, "PN673-1 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) — Megan Blair Benton — The Judiciary," accessed December 17, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Congress.Gov, "PN726-2 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) — Megan Blair Benton — The Judiciary," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Federal Judicial Center, "Benton, Megan Blair," accessed February 10, 2026
- ↑ Governor of Missouri, "Governor Parson Announces Four Judicial Appointments," October 5, 2023
- ↑ Note: The bolded number reflects the largest number.
- ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "RESULTS OF COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING," accessed January 15, 2026
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed February 5, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedappt - ↑ Mow.uscourts.gov, "Western District of Missouri," accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ United States Courts Western District of Missouri, "Courthouse Locations," accessed May 5, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by M. Douglas Harpool |
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri 2026-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Missouri 6th Judicial Circuit Court Division 6 2023-2026 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by W. Ann Hansbrough |
Missouri 6th Judicial Circuit Court Division 4 Associate Judge 2021-2023 |
Succeeded by Susan Casey |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |
Thomas Parker • Elizabeth Branch • Neil Gorsuch • Amul Thapar • David C. Nye • John K. Bush • Kevin Newsom • Timothy J. Kelly • Ralph Erickson • Scott Palk • Trevor McFadden • Joan Larsen • Amy Coney Barrett • Allison Eid • Stephanos Bibas • Donald Coggins Jr. • Dabney Friedrich • Greg Katsas • Steven Grasz • Don Willett • James Ho • William L. Campbell Jr. • David Stras • Tilman E. Self III • Karen Gren Scholer • Terry A. Doughty • Claria Horn Boom • John Broomes • Rebecca Grady Jennings • Kyle Duncan • Kurt Engelhardt • Michael B. Brennan • Joel Carson • Robert Wier • Fernando Rodriguez Jr. • Annemarie Carney Axon • | ||
| 2018 |
Andrew Oldham • Amy St. Eve • Michael Scudder • John Nalbandian • Mark Bennett • Andrew Oldham • Britt Grant • Colm Connolly • Maryellen Noreika • Jill Otake • Jeffrey Beaverstock • Emily Coody Marks • Holly Lou Teeter • Julius Richardson • Charles B. Goodwin • Barry Ashe • Stan Baker • A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. • Terry F. Moorer • Susan Baxter • William Jung • Alan Albright • Dominic Lanza • Eric Tostrud • Charles Williams • Nancy E. Brasel • James Sweeney • Kari A. Dooley • Marilyn J. Horan • Robert Summerhays • Brett Kavanaugh • David Porter • Liles Burke • Michael Juneau • Peter Phipps • Lance Walker • Richard Sullivan • Eli Richardson • Ryan Nelson • Chad F. Kenney, Sr. • Susan Brnovich • William M. Ray, II • Jeremy Kernodle • Thomas Kleeh • J.P. Hanlon • Mark Norris • Jonathan Kobes • Michael Brown • David Counts | ||
| 2019 |
Eric Miller • Chad Readler • Eric Murphy • Neomi Rao • Paul Matey • Allison Jones Rushing • Bridget S. Bade • Roy Altman • Patrick Wyrick • Holly Brady • David Morales • Andrew Brasher • J. Campbell Barker • Rodolfo Ruiz • Daniel Domenico • Michael Truncale • Michael Park • Joseph Bianco • Raúl Arias-Marxuach • Daniel Collins • Joshua Wolson • Wendy Vitter • Kenneth Kiyul Lee • Kenneth Bell • Stephen Clark • Howard Nielson • Rodney Smith • Jean-Paul Boulee • Sarah Daggett Morrison • Rossie Alston • Pamela A. Barker • Corey Maze • Greg Guidry • Matthew Kacsmaryk • Allen Winsor • Carl Nichols • James Cain, Jr. • Tom Barber • J. Nicholas Ranjan • Clifton L. Corker • Peter Phipps • Daniel Bress • Damon Leichty • Wendy W. Berger • Peter Welte • Michael Liburdi • William Shaw Stickman • Mark Pittman • Karin J. Immergut • Jason Pulliam • Brantley Starr • Brian Buescher • James Wesley Hendrix • Timothy Reif • Martha Pacold • Sean Jordan • Mary Rowland • John M. Younge • Jeff Brown • Ada Brown • Steven Grimberg • Stephanie A. Gallagher • Steven Seeger • Stephanie Haines • Mary McElroy • David J. Novak • Frank W. Volk • Charles Eskridge • Rachel Kovner • Justin Walker • T. Kent Wetherell • Danielle Hunsaker • Lee Rudofsky • Jennifer Philpott Wilson • William Nardini • Steven Menashi • Robert J. Luck • Eric Komitee • Douglas Cole • John Sinatra • Sarah Pitlyk • Barbara Lagoa • Richard Myers II • Sherri Lydon • Patrick Bumatay • R. Austin Huffaker • Miller Baker • Anuraag Singhal • Karen Marston • Jodi Dishman • Mary Kay Vyskocil • Matthew McFarland • John Gallagher • Bernard Jones • Kea Riggs • Robert J. Colville • Stephanie Dawkins Davis • Gary R. Brown • David Barlow • Lewis Liman | ||
| 2020 |
Lawrence VanDyke • Daniel Traynor • John Kness • Joshua Kindred • Philip Halpern • Silvia Carreno-Coll • Scott Rash • John Heil • Anna Manasco • John L. Badalamenti • Drew Tipton • Andrew Brasher • Cory Wilson • Scott Hardy • David Joseph • Matthew Schelp • John Cronan • Justin Walker • Brett H. Ludwig • Christy Wiegand • Thomas Cullen • Diane Gujarati • Stanley Blumenfeld • Mark Scarsi • John Holcomb • Stephen P. McGlynn • Todd Robinson • Hala Jarbou • David Dugan • Iain D. Johnston • Franklin U. Valderrama • John Hinderaker • Roderick Young • Michael Newman • Aileen Cannon • James Knepp • Kathryn Kimball Mizelle • Benjamin Beaton • Kristi Johnson • Toby Crouse • Philip Calabrese • Taylor McNeel • Thomas Kirsch • Stephen Vaden • Katherine Crytzer • Fernando Aenlle-Rocha • Charles Atchley • Joseph Dawson | ||
| 2025 |
Whitney Hermandorfer • Joshua Divine • Cristian M. Stevens • Zachary Bluestone • Emil Bove • Edward Artau • Kyle Dudek• Maria Lanahan• Jennifer Mascott• Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe• Chad Meredith• Harold Mooty• Jordan Pratt• Edmund LaCour• Bill Lewis• Eric Tung• Rebecca Taibleson• Joshua D. Dunlap• Bill Mercer• Susan Rodriguez• Robert Chamberlin• Matthew Orso• David Bragdon• Jimmy Maxwell• Lindsey Freeman• William J. Crain | ||
| 2026 |
Alexander Van Hook• Megan Benton• Aaron Peterson• David Fowlkes• Justin Olson• Brian Lea• Nicholas Ganjei | ||
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri
State courts:
Missouri Supreme Court • Missouri Court of Appeals • Missouri Circuit Courts • Missouri Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Missouri • Missouri judicial elections • Judicial selection in Missouri
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State of Missouri Jefferson City (capital) |
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