NCJW opposes Judge Cristian Stevens. Here’s why:
Judge Cristian Stevens’ record and public statements raise serious concerns about his fitness for a lifetime seat on the federal bench. As a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, he has consistently sided with corporate interests over workers, opposing disability discrimination claims and limiting accountability for workplace injuries. His judicial opinions reflect a troubling disregard for the rights of individuals facing harm or bias on the job. Additionally, his refusal during his confirmation hearing to acknowledge the reality of the January 6 insurrection or affirm the outcome of the 2020 presidential election undermines trust in his impartiality and commitment to democratic norms.
Judge Cristian Stevens’ stance on important issues:
Criminal Justice Reform: Judge Stevens defended harsher punishments for crack cocaine offenses, claiming the sentencing disparity would ultimately benefit Black communities — despite the well-documented role such policies have played in fueling mass incarceration.
Workers Rights:
In King v. Missouri American Water Co., Judge Stevens dissented from the court’s decision to allow a disability discrimination case to move forward, siding with the employer’s attempt to have the claim dismissed. In Cole v. Kansas City Southern Railway Co., Judge Stevens’ dissent suggested that he would have ruled against a railroad worker who suffered serious injuries on the job, highlighting a pattern of siding with corporate interests.
Education and Career Highlights:
Cristian M. Stevens is currently a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, in St. Louis, Missouri. Judge Stevens previously served as First Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General of the Criminal Division in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Judge Stevens also served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri and was a partner at Armstrong Teasdale, LLP, in St. Louis. Upon graduation from law school, Judge Stevens served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Pasco M. Bowman II of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Judge Stevens received his BA, magna cum laude, from the University of Missouri, and his JD, cum laude, from the University of Missouri School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Missouri Law Review.