Quint Shafer named to 6th Circuit bench

The Platte County Courthouse didn’t have to go long without a Shafer in the Circuit Court. On Tuesday, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Abe “Quint” Shafer V of Weston as associate circuit judge for the Sixth Circuit in Platte County, a quarter-year after the mandated retirement of his father Judge Abe Safer at the end of 2013. The younger Shafer was pleased by the news, but even more pleased to share it. “Well, I was glad to get the news today and even happier to call my grandmother on her 96th birthday to let her know,” Shafer said. “I look forward to serving the people of Platte County.” Shafer will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Thomas C. Fincham to the office of circuit judge. He was one of three applicants submitted to the governor for consideration by the Sixth Circuit Judicial Commission under the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan. “Quint Shafer is a longtime member of the legal community in Platte County and has been very active in local civic, education and other organizations,” Nixon said. “I am pleased to appoint him to the bench as associate circuit judge where he can ably serve the people of this county.” Shafer is a manager and owner of Shafer and Welch in Weston and has practiced law in Platte County since 1995, representing clients in both civil and criminal matters. He also has served as city attorney and prosecutor for the City of Weston since 1999, and has been appointed as a special prosecutor for Platte County on specific cases. He said he has faith in fellow practice attorneys Jeremy Webb and Jared Welch to serve the City of Weston in the future, as both already serve as associate city attorneys. “It would have been hard for me to leave my office and my community if I didn’t have confidence that they would be well taken care of,” Shafer said. Shafer served on the board of education for the West Platte R-2 School District from 2007-10. He also serves on the boards for the Bank of Weston and for the Weston Historical Museum. Shafer obtained his law degree in 1995 from the Mississippi College School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in 1991.