Jackson County Circuit Judge Peggy Stevens McGraw announced her retirement Monday after serving 18 years on the bench.
McGraw was appointed to Division 8 of the 16th Circuit in January 2001 after serving as an associate circuit judge in Jackson County from 1995 to 2001.
"I have been a public servant almost my entire working life," McGraw said in a statement. "I have been blessed to have a wonderful career in the law."
McGraw also served as president of the Association of Women Lawyers of Kansas City and was a member of the Missouri Supreme Court's Trial Judge Education Committee.
"I have gotten more than I've given, and it has been very rewarding to be a part of the justice system and help people resolve life issues," she said in a statement.
McGraw is currently president of the board of Scuola Vita Nuova, a charter school in Kansas City, Mo. And, according to a release, she plans to remain active in the community during her retirement.
In September, Judge Ann Mesle also announced her retirement from the Jackson County Circuit Court. On Thursday, the Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Commission named three nominees to fill Mesle's vacant circuit judge seat.