Judge Stephen R. Bough graduated from Missouri State University in 1993. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law in 1997. Bough served as a law clerk to Judge Scott O. Wright of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. From 1997 to 1999. He practiced law at Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman and from 1999 to 2002. From 2002 to 2006, he practiced at Henning & Bough. From 2006 to 2014, he had his own practice. Judge Bough also served as an adjunct faculty at the UMKC School of Law from 2002 through 2006. Judge Bough received his federal judicial commission on December 19, 2014 and was sworn in on December 29, 2014.