Judge Gayle L. Crane

Judge Crane received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas and graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1984. After working in corporate law, she came to Joplin and became a partner in the Law Firm of Sotta & Crane where she continued her legal career until elected Circuit Judge in Jasper County in 2006. Judge Crane was the first woman in the history of Jasper County to be elected to this position. She began her first term in January 2007 and is on her third term. In addition to her normal criminal and civil dockets, Judge Crane was also responsible implementing several problem-solving courts including a Mental Health Court, DWI Court, and a Juvenile Diversion Court.

Judge Crane is the former Presiding Judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit. She also served as the Presiding Juvenile Judge where she was instrumental in transitioning the Juvenile Division’s work from traditional juvenile justice practices which incarcerated youth, to more proactive, preventative, and collaborative approaches designed to divert youth from the juvenile justice system.

Outside of her judicial responsibilities Judge Crane has served on numerous boards within Jasper County including Habitat for Humanity of Joplin, the Joplin Family Y, Hearts and Hammers, the Western District of Legal Aid, Jasper County Women Lawyers Association, and the Women’s Club. She has also received awards as a Most Influential Women by the Joplin Regional Business Journal, Women’s Justice Award, Public Official Award, Finalist for the Annie Baxter Award, and Friends of Education Award. Judge Crane is married with three children and resides in Joplin.