The Honorable George W. Draper, the first African American to serve as Chief Judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, was born on August 5, 1953, in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Morehouse College, completing his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1977, then received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University, an HBCU, in 1981. Judge Draper built an extraordinary career as a distinguished judge and public servant, becoming a towering figure in Missouri’s legal landscape.
Judge Draper and his family moved to Silver Spring, Maryland while he was still in elementary school. His father, George Draper II, was a professor at Howard University, and his mother, Katherine, was a homemaker and community advocate. After earning his law degree in 1981 from Howard University, he took his first position as a law clerk for the Honorable Shellie Bowers, District of Columbia Superior Court, from 1981 to 1982. After a year in that capacity, he returned home to St. Louis, Missouri.
Next George Draper became a prosecuting attorney for the St. Louis Circuit Courts, serving there from 1984 to 1994. Later that year he was appointed as an associate circuit judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit in St. Louis County. This was his first judicial appointment.
In 2000, Draper was elevated to the Missouri Court of Appeals, where he demonstrated his legal brilliance and ability to navigate complex cases. In 2011, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon appointed Draper to the Missouri Supreme Court, making him the second African American to serve on the state’s highest court.
As a Supreme Court judge, Draper worked tirelessly to ensure justice for all Missourians, regardless of their background. In 2019, he made history again when he became the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court. As Chief Justice, the first African American to hold the position, Draper focused on enhancing access to justice and improving the efficiency of Missouri’s court system. He also championed efforts to diversify the legal profession and foster inclusion in the judiciary.
After retiring August 4, 2023, Judge Draper continued to serve his community by joining the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. In this role, he provides guidance and mentorship to young attorneys, sharing his wealth of experience to shape the next generation of legal minds.
