Knox County Judge Thomas Redington Honored with Statewide Award for Treatment Court Excellence

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Knox County’s Judge Thomas Redington Receives Statewide Claire McCaskill Award for Excellence in Treatment Courts

EDINA, Mo. – The Honorable Thomas P. Redington, Associate Circuit Judge of Knox County, has been awarded the 2024 Claire McCaskill Award, one of Missouri’s highest honors in the field of treatment courts. The award recognizes leaders who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to helping individuals in recovery through innovative, compassionate, and evidence-based court practices.

Judge Redington’s contributions to Missouri’s treatment court movement span more than 15 years. He helped establish the Marion County Drug Court while serving as prosecuting attorney, laying the groundwork for what would become a lifelong mission to support individuals battling addiction through restorative justice approaches.

Since approximately 2015, Judge Redington has led the 2nd Circuit Treatment Court Program, expanding it to include not only drug court, but also DWI court and family treatment court. Under his guidance, the program has consistently secured grant funding and introduced groundbreaking ideas to better serve participants.

One of his most notable achievements is the creation of a dental care initiative in 2019, which partners with Knox County Dental and Dentist Dr. Lisa Bosch along with A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health. This program provides critical dental services to participants, many of whom face serious health barriers to recovery. In 2025, he was invited to present the success of this initiative to the Missouri Dental Association, helping inspire similar efforts across the state.

“Judge Redington’s work has touched lives not only in Knox County but throughout Missouri,” said Judge Corey Moon, who submitted the nomination. “He’s shown that when we treat people with dignity, support them with real resources, and believe in their potential, recovery becomes possible.”

Redington is a regular presenter at statewide trainings, including the Missouri Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP) Conference, where he shares insights and strategies with fellow judges and court teams. Known for encouraging creativity and collaboration, he has helped instill a sense of pride and positivity in the recovery community—often described as promoting a “recovery is cool” culture among participants and professionals alike.

Graduates of his program have gone on to achieve stable housing, employment, healthcare, childcare, and family reunification, thanks in part to the support and structure of Redington’s court team. His long-time court administrator, Jane Moore, who herself received the Claire McCaskill Award in 2020, has worked alongside him in Knox County to build one of the state’s most effective and inspiring treatment court teams.

“It was a very nice surprise,” Judge Tom Redington told The Edina Sentinel. “The real reward is a graduation of a treatment court participant, and seeing them get their life back on track.”

The Claire McCaskill Award, first presented in 2005, honors a legacy of service to justice and recovery in Missouri.

Prior Clarie McCaskill Awardees include: 

2005 Claire McCaskill
2006 Judge Ray Price
2007 Ann Wilson
2008 Commissioner Molly Merrigan
2009 Judge David Dolan
2010 Bill Bader

2011 No Awardee
2012 Commissioner James Sullivan
2013 No Awardee
2014 No Awardee
2015 Penny Clodfelter
2016 Judge Christine Carpenter

2017 Judge Timothy Perigo
2018 Commissioner Peggy Davis
2019 Angie Plunkett
2020 Jane Moore
2021 No Awardee
2022 Honorable Phil Ohlms
2023 Sherry Huxol