Hon. Virginia W. Lay

Virginia W. Lay is a judge serving on the Missouri 21st Judicial Circuit Court Division 16. She was appointed to the court on November 5, 2021 by Governor Mike Parson, succeeding Michael D. Burton. Lay earned her bachelor's degree from Columbia University in 1990 and her J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 1993. She began her legal career as an Assistant Circuit Attorney in St. Louis (1993-1997), then served as an Assistant Prosecutor for Jackson County, Missouri, and later worked for the Attorney General of Missouri. From 2002 to 2017, she practiced privately, while also serving as a Special Assistant Circuit Attorney from 2012 to 2019. She was appointed Associate Circuit Judge on April 1, 2019, before becoming a Circuit Judge in 2021. Her experience spans prosecutorial work, private practice, and judicial service within Missouri.