Centralia lawyer appointed associate judge

A Centralia lawyer has been appointed to fill the seat of an outgoing Boone County associate circuit judge. Jayne A. Pearman will take over for Stepanie Morrell, who was elected circuit judge in November. Morrell was elected to the seat held by Judge Kevin Crane, who is retiring after 17 years on the bench. Gov. Mike Parson made the appointment of Pearman. She currently runs her own law firm in Centralia specializing in mediation and family law.