Retired St. Louis County Circuit Judge Thomas J. Prebil has joined United States Arbitration & Mediation (USA&M) mediation panel.
While his primary duties will lie within the mediation panel, USA&M officer Robert Litz told the Record that Prebil will also serve as an arbitrator in certain cases.
Before his appointment to the circuit court in 2009, Prebil practiced law for 37 years in the St. Louis area. He worked on a variety of cases in several courts, including adoption, civil, criminal, family and juvenile. He also wrote briefs and argued appeals in higher courts, from the Missouri Supreme Court to federal appellate courts.
Prebil's experience as a judge, mediator and trial lawyer will be an asset to USA&M, Litz said.
"He's joining several of his colleagues who were on the bench in St. Louis County," he said.
Prebil graduated from St. Louis University in 1968. He received his juris doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law in 1971.
He entered the U.S. Army Reserves and served on active duty as a second lieutenant from 1971 to 1972. He received an honorable discharge in 1980.
After his active duty service, Prebil served as a City of St. Louis assistant public defender. He left that office and entered private practice in 1975. Until he was appointed to the circuit court, his primary focus was on Federal Employers' Liability Act cases.