1942-2022, Kenneth M. Romines, Judge on the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals 2005 to 2012, died on Monday, October 3, 2022. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Ken worked as a law clerk on the Mississippi Supreme Court, an assistant Missouri attorney general, and a private practice lawyer. As assistant Missouri attorney general, Ken successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972. He was appointed as a circuit judge for St. Louis County in 1987 by Governor John Ashcroft, and he held this position until his appointment to the Missouri Court of Appeals by Governor Matt Blunt.

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and raised most of his life in St. Louis, Missouri, Ken graduated from William Jewell College in 1965, where he was a member of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order and where he met his wife of 56 years, Jane Hackett Romines. Married in June of 1966, Ken and Jane moved to Oxford, Mississippi, where Ken attended the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating in 1968. A dedicated and respected jurist, Ken served as a mentor and teacher for innumerable attorneys, clerks, and fellow members of the bench throughout his long legal career.

Ken loved God, his family, the law, and his Ole Miss Rebels. His sharp wit and joyful ribbing endeared him to not only his peers and family, but to the families of his peers, his children's friends, and his grandchildren's friends. Ken loved nothing more than sitting in his backyard surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends ... preferably while listening to Mike Shannon and Jack Buck or watching Archie and Eli Manning at the Vaught.

Ken is survived by his beloved wife, Jane; his daughters, Elizabeth Romines, Katherine Littleton, and Emily Romines; his son-in-law, Geoffrey Littleton; granddaughters Madeleine and Gillian Littleton, and Riley Mullgardt; sister-in-law Katherine Best; nieces Margaret Simer (Danny) and Suzanne Langley (Greg); and great-niece and great-nephew Jessica Smith (Jonathan) and Samuel Simer (Annalise).

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Services: A memorial service is to be held Friday, November 4 at 1:00 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church (7700 Davis Dr., Clayton, MO), where Ken was a member for 42 years.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Oct. 16, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Romines

12 Entries

Rick Granger

November 4, 2022

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
My sincere condolences

Jessica (Stoney) Eswine

October 31, 2022

Clerking for Judge Romines on the Court of Appeals was my first job out of law school, and what a way to start it was! I quickly was welcomed by his wit and wisdom, as so many have recounted, but also his genuine care for me as a brother in Christ. I learned so much about what it means to be a good lawyer and a good judge from Judge Romines, and getting to be in his orbit feels like membership in a special club, where everyone has that knowing smile as soon as you mention his name. Prayers and condolences, Romines family. Grateful to look forward to meeting "the Judge" again over a cigar in the new kingdom.

Bill Hollander

October 22, 2022

Judge Romines was always very kind to me especially when I was a young lawyer. Visits to his courtroom and his chambers were always a humorous and enjoyable educational adventure. My wife and I had the great pleasure of spending several days fishing and dining with him and John Reed in the Florida Keys. We were overlapping guests of Jack Sluggett. I too , had a few chance visits with him on the side walk downtown. What a great man and what a great life he lived to the fullest. My condolences to his family and all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He will be missed.

David R. Usher

October 21, 2022

Kenny was a great man and a great judge. He was a good friend of mine who supported my work advancing the rule of law in legislation and courts. He had a vital personality and exceptional sense of humor.

Hon. Stanley J. Wallach

October 17, 2022

As a young lawyer I enjoyed visiting Judge Romines in his trial chambers in Clayton. He was full of wisdom and wit, and always drew a colorful cast of characters around him. He is one of the judges I practiced before that influenced me in ways that have made me a better judge. I'll miss him. Judge Stan Wallach

Joseph Jarvis (Big Joe)

October 17, 2022

Ken and I became fast friends in the late seventies and stayed friends all these years,he taught me many things especially on our many trips to Sedalia to work a little then go eat at the old courthouse restaurant great memories. His kindness no matter what stature of life you came from was based on his Christian beliefs not appearances. Just to have him call you friend is the greatest honor of my lifetime. Thanks for the memories to the entire Romines family.

Gary Sarachan

October 16, 2022

I defy any Lawyer who practiced in St Louis County to not smile when I say he made the trip to the Courthouse worth it.
My his memory be a blessing.

Gary Sarachan

October 16, 2022

I dare any lawyer who practiced in St. Louis County not to smile when I say he made the trip to the Courthouse worth it.
May his memory be a blessing.

Coreen Conroy

October 16, 2022

If you looked up the word Judge in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Judge Romines. Not only was he the epitome of a judge by his stature, he was the epitome of a judge by his actions. I loved him, even though I haven’t seen him in over 10 years. I worked with Judge Romines when I worked in the prosecuting attorneys office, child support division in St. Louis County. He came to my wedding. My son called him “your uncle your honor”, which always cracked him and Ken up. When it was cold, and the courthouse was a non-smoking facility, I would take breaks in Judge Romines‘s office because he had an order that his chambers were a designated smoking area! His wit was sharp and quick. We would laugh the whole time I was up there. Beneath his sort of gruff exterior was his heart of gold. He didn’t see himself as too high and mighty to crack jokes with a lowly paralegal, like me. In those brief years I spent at the courthouse, he taught me more about the law and the spirit of the law than anyone else in my career. I had the utmost respect for Judge Romines. He often spoke of Jane & his children, telling stories about the girls & how proud he was of their current accomplishments. I could tell, he loved his family. A great man & my greatest mentor is gone. It’s so sad. To all of his family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I can only imagine how much you will miss him. RIP your Honor, until we meet again.
Coreen Conroy

Bob Peat

October 16, 2022

Great picture of Ken! It captures the real Ken so well. My family misses him very much.

Doug Stockenberg

October 16, 2022

I am very proud to say that I was the first judicial law clerk Judge Romines hired after he was appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals in 2005, and my clerkship has been the best part of my legal career. During that time, I learned a lot about the law and so much more, including how to properly appreciate limericks, never to use the word "irregardless," and all about Ole Miss football. Of course, I had to see what Ole Miss football was all about, and so he and Jane graciously hosted me at several of their famous tailgate parties in the Grove in Oxford, and I was not disappointed (see pic). In fact, I even got to see my alma mater, Wake Forest, put the smack down on his beloved Rebels in 2006, which I did not let him live down, but he was always a very good sport (as Rebel fans are famous for saying, "We may not win the game, but we´ll never lose the party"). I also loved when we adjourned from work a little early on a Friday afternoon for a "judicial conference" at one of his favorite watering holes, McGurks Pub, where he would regale us with tales of past adventures (and misadventures) with his old law school buddies, including the famous (or sometimes infamous) Bobby Williams. Of course, if Judge Romines wasn´t in his chambers, I always knew I could find him on the back steps of the Old Post Office building, puffing on one of his cigars and making a new friend with whomever happened to be passing by. I wouldn´t be surprised if there´s still part of an old cigar wedged in the crack of the building somewhere! In short, Judge Romines was a wonderful mentor in the law to me and many others, a dedicated follower of Christ, and a good friend to all who knew him. His wit, wisdom, and humor will be missed greatly.

Alvin woff

October 16, 2022

I really enjoyed visiting with Ken while he was on the trial bench many early mornings before work. He was smart and funny and he will be missed.
My sympathies: Alvin Wolff

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