Megan Blair Benton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri | |
| Assumed office February 10, 2026 | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | M. Douglas Harpool |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1985 (age 40–41) Columbia, Missouri, U.S.[1] |
| Education | Emory University (BA, MA) Vanderbilt University (JD) |
Megan Blair Benton[2] (born 1985) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri since 2026. She was previously a judge of Missouri's 6th Judicial Circuit from 2021 to 2026.
Early life and education
Benton received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Emory University. She received a Juris Doctor from the Vanderbilt University Law School.[3][4]
Career
Benton served as a prosecuting attorney in the Platte County prosecutor's office. From 2021 to 2026, she was a judge of Missouri's 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers the same county.[3][4] She was appointed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson.[5]
Federal judicial service
On November 14, 2025, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Benton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri to be vacated by Judge M. Douglas Harpool.[3] On December 17, 2025, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on her nomination.[6] On January 15, 2026 the committee advanced her nomination by a 12–10 vote.[7] On February 4, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 51–47 vote.[8] Later that day, her nomination was confirmed by a 51–46 vote.[9] She received her judicial commission on February 10, 2026.[10]
References
- "Trump's Second-Term Judicial Push: Five Nominations Head to Senate for Confirmation". 2 December 2025.
- "Megan Blair Benton # 273749 - Attorney Licensee Search". apps.calbar.ca.gov.
- "Truth Social". Truth Social.
- "Megan Benton 2024".
- Release, Press (May 7, 2021). "Parson appoints Megan Benton as associate circuit judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit".
- "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary".
- "Results of Executive Business Meeting" (PDF). U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. January 15, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Megan Blair Benton to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Missouri)". senate.gov. February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Megan Blair Benton, of Missouri, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Missouri)". senate.gov. February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- Megan Benton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
External links
- Megan Benton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.