Regulatory Law Judges: Who We Are

Nancy Dippell
Secretary/Chief Regulatory Law Judge
Nancy Dippell received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with honors in 1989 and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She began her legal career as a hearing officer for the Department of Social Services and then was counsel for the Division of Motor Carrier and Railroad Safety. Nancy came to the Public Service Commission originally in March 1998. Beginning in August 2011, Nancy became an attorney/adviser for the Social Security Administration until returning to the Public Service Commission in August 2016. She was named Secretary to the Commission and Chief Regulatory Law Judge on Feb. 16, 2023.

Ron Pridgin
Deputy Chief Regulatory Law Judge
Ron graduated with honors from Oklahoma State University in 1987, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1991. Ron served as a hearing officer and litigator for the Missouri Department of Social Services from 1993-1995. He then joined the Missouri Department of Revenue and represented the director in Circuit Court, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Missouri. Ron began his career with the Public Service Commission in May 2002.

John Clark
Senior Regulatory Law Judge
John Clark received his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 2005. John worked as a trial attorney for the Missouri Public Defender System before going into private practice. He also served as an Associate Municipal Judge for the City of Columbia for more than five years. Immediately prior to joining the Public Service Commission in September 2017, John was employed by the Department of Social Services as a hearing officer and managing attorney. 
 

Charles Hatcher
Regulatory Law Judge
Charles Hatcher received his Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of Law in 1997. His legal career began in the non-partisan office of Senate Research, and he then practiced throughout the legislative branch for most of two decades until moving to a hearing officer position with the Department of Social Services, and then to counsel for the Family Support Division. Charles joined the Public Service Commission in August 2018.
 

Kenneth J. Seyer
Regulatory Law Judge
Prior to joining the Public Service Commission in October 2021, Ken Seyer served 12 years as hearings administrator for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. He is a Certified Public Accountant with experience in governmental accounting, computer software and criminal prosecution. Ken has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Southeast Missouri State University and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri.  

Riley Fewell
Regulatory Law Judge
Riley Fewell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2016 and a Juris Doctor in 2019 from St. Louis University School of Law with concentrations in Health and International Law. Upon graduating, Riley began his legal career at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services before transitioning into private practice. He focused his practice in family law for several years before joining the Public Service Commission in February 2023. 

Karolin Walker 
Regulatory Law Judge
Karolin graduated from the University of Missouri–Columbia School of Law and has worked in the General Counsel’s office in both state and private agencies. She has extensive litigation experience and has tried cases and argued appeals both in circuit court and in every appellate forum in Missouri. Karolin has tried numerous cases in front of administrative forums as well as in front of Boards and Tribunals. In addition to litigating cases in state and federal court she has presided over thousands of cases as the sole trier of fact. Karolin has experience lobbying; drafting policy, rulemaking and legislation from start to finish in state and federal legislatures.  

Adjudication Support Staff

Kayla Kliethermes						Emily Walthers