Judge Vernon E. Scoville served with the U.S. Army from 1971-1974. He is a retired Major in the U.S. Army Reserve. He obtained a B.A. and a J.D. degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He was a law clerk for Judge Gene R. Martin in 1979, and served as an assistant Jackson County prosecutor from 1979 until 1980. He was an Assistant Public Defender from 1980 until 1981. He was a Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives and worked in Private Practice from 1982 until 1991. He was appointed to the bench in 1991. He is an adjunct professor at Park University and a Practical Nurse.