Judge Jon Beetem is a proud graduate of East Elementary, Simonsen Junior High and Jefferson City High School. He attended the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and returned to Jefferson City in 1981 to work in the family pharmacy operation upon graduation.
Judge Beetem is also a 1992 graduate of the University of Missouri Law School. After being admitted to the bar, he went into private practice. For the next 14 years, he practiced in Jefferson City, focusing on litigation. He represented hundreds of clients before state administrative agencies as well as state and federal circuit and appellate courts. He also handled government cases such as are unique to Cole County.
Prior to becoming a judge, his advocation was juvenile law and he focused on helping children find permanent homes, finalizing over 200 adoptions and guardianships.
As the juvenile judge for Cole County, he continues this passion by supporting programs such as the Prenger Family Center supervised visitation and exchange program, the Fostering Court Improvement Project and the Capital City CASA program.
To this day, he continues to work with kids in programs such as 4H, DARE and the Missouri Hunter Safety Program. He is a frequent speaker to school classes and other public groups on the Constitution and the court system.
He is an ASTAR fellow, having completed the 2 year curriculum for handling cases with complex and/or novel scientific evidence. He has sat, by special designation, as both a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District as well as the Missouri Supreme Court.
Judge Beetem will celebrate his 30th wedding anniversary this fall with his wife, Jane. They attend First Presbyterian Church. He has raised two children, Libby and Shelby, here in Jefferson City.