Former Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ronnie White has joined a St. Louis law firm specializing in personal injury cases. The newly renamed firm of Holloran, White & Schwartz LLP announced the addition of White on its Web site yesterday. White resigned from the Supreme Court on Friday after serving almost 12 years. White, 54, of St. Louis, was Missouri’s first black Supreme Court judge and its first black chief justice, a position he held from mid-2003 through mid-2005.

As an attorney in private practice, White said he intends to reach out to people in the black community.

"One of my goals will be to use the experience and resources of this firm to ensure access to high-quality legal representation to people with serious cases who otherwise might not be able to afford it," White said in a statement appearing on the firm’s Web site.

The law firm said White will focus on civil trials, appeals and business litigation representing investors, shareholders and small-business owners.