William Duane Benton

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William Duane Benton (born September 8, 1950 in Springfield, Missouri) is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Benton was nominated by President George W. Bush on February 12, 2004 and confirmed by the United States Senate by a voice vote on June 24, 2004.

Benton graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in 1972, and took his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he graduated alongside Justice Samuel Alito in 1975. Benton also has an M.B.A. from Memphis State University, and an L.L.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Prior to joining the federal bench, Benton served on the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1991 to 2004, where he was Chief Justice from 1997 to 1999. Benton was director of the Missouri Department of Revenue in the administration of then-Governor John Ashcroft from 1989 to 1991, and served as an administrative aide to a United States Congressman Wendell Bailey from 1981 to 1982. From 1983 to 1989, Benton practiced law in Jefferson City, Missouri. Benton served as a captain in the U.S. Navy/Naval Reserve from 1972 to 2002, and as judge advocate in the U.S. Navy from 1975 to 1979. Benton has taught at the University of Missouri School of Law, and at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.