Sifferman retires after decades on bench

An estimated 300 people attended a reception to honor the newly-retired Scott Sifferman at the MARC on Friday, Jan. 6. Known as Missouri's longest-serving trial judge, Sifferman served for over 33 years as a circuit court judge in Lawrence County. During the ceremony, a number of speakers shared their memories of Sifferman's work to establish the Drug and Veterans Courts, as well as his efforts to turn around youthful offenders who appeared in juvenile court and much more.
Sifferman himself shared his memories of his career, which included a girl named Emma who survived a near-death experience and went on to be adopted with a loving family whom Sifferman placed her with, as well as the time he chased down a man named "Snake" who attempted to flee after being sentenced for burglary.
He also spoke of some of the funnier cases that appeared before him, including a woman who claimed "cyber-molestation" and another where two men named Joe East and Cherry West, who had to be separated, came before him on a civil matter but got into a fight. He called it "the Day that East met West."

To stay busy in retirement
In his retirement, Sifferman will continue to serve as a senior judge and will oversee the expungement of convictions which comes about as the result of the passage of Missouri's Amendment Three. He plans to spend more time cycling (he is an avid cycling enthusiast who once rode across the U.S. from west to east in 25 days) and also plans to write and publish books.