William Duane Benton is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Education
Benton graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972, and took his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1975, where he was Managing Editor of the Yale Law Journal and graduated alongside Justice Samuel Alito. Benton also has an Master of Business Administration from Memphis State University and an L.L.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Subsequently, Benton was selected as a Danforth Fellow at Harvard"s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he completed the Senior Executive"s Program.
Career
Benton was nominated by President George West. Bush on February 12, 2004, to a seat vacated by Theodore McMillian and confirmed just over four months later by the United States Senate by a voice vote on June 24, 2004. He received his commission on July 2, 2004. Prior to joining the federal bench, Benton served on the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1991 to 2004, where he was Chief Justice from 1997 to 1999.
Benton was director of the Missouri Department of Revenue in the administration of then-Governor John Ashcroft from 1989 to 1991, and served as an administrative aide to a United States Congressman Wendell Bailey from 1981 to 1982.
From 1983 to 1989, Benton practiced law in Jefferson City, Missouri. Benton served as a captain in the United States. Navy/Naval Reserve from 1972 to 2002, and as judge advocate in the United States. Navy from 1975 to 1979.
Benton has taught at the University of Missouri School of Law, and at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.