The Supreme Court of Missouri is the highest court in the state of Missouri . It was established in 1820 and is located at 207 West High Street in Jefferson City , Missouri. Missouri voters have approved changes in the state's constitution to give the Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction – the sole legal power to hear – over five types of cases on appeal. Pursuant to Article V, Section 3 of the Missouri Constitution , these cases involve:
25-595: Unless their case involves one of those five issues, people who want a trial court's decision reviewed must appeal to the Missouri Court of Appeals . Most of these cases involve routine legal questions and end there. The Court of Appeals is divided geographically into the Eastern District, Western District and Southern District. Certain cases, however, can be transferred to the Supreme Court – at
50-512: A panel are cited as "Mo." Ginger Gooch is the latest appointee to the Court, having been appointed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson in October 2023. The judges rotate the two-year term of Chief Justice among themselves. The Chief Justice is Constitutionally empowered to preside over the court and to be the "chief administrative officer" of the state judicial system. The current Chief Justice
75-403: A panel are cited as "Mo." Ginger Gooch is the latest appointee to the Court, having been appointed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson in October 2023. The judges rotate the two-year term of Chief Justice among themselves. The Chief Justice is Constitutionally empowered to preside over the court and to be the "chief administrative officer" of the state judicial system. The current Chief Justice
100-725: A retention vote of the people. If retained, judges serve a term of 12 years. At the time of its establishment, the court had three judges, which was expanded to five in 1872, and seven in 1890. The following is a list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Missouri or which came to the Supreme Court of the United States from the Supreme Court of Missouri. Since 1973, the Supreme Court of Missouri has heard all cases en banc (before all seven judges). Before that many cases were heard by panels of three judges. Cases heard en banc are cited as "Mo. banc"; older cases heard by
125-425: A trial court's decision reviewed must appeal to the Missouri Court of Appeals . Most of these cases involve routine legal questions and end there. The Court of Appeals is divided geographically into the Eastern District, Western District and Southern District. Certain cases, however, can be transferred to the Supreme Court – at the Court's discretion – if it determines that a question of general interest or importance
150-505: Is Mary Rhodes Russell , whose term began July 1, 2023 and will serve until June 30, 2025. As of November 1, 2023 , the makeup of the court is: The Clerk of the Supreme Court of Missouri is responsible for a wide range of duties, including the supervision of the internal administrative function of the Court itself as well as the planning and administrative direction of the Missouri Judicial Conference,
175-420: Is Mary Rhodes Russell , whose term began July 1, 2023 and will serve until June 30, 2025. As of November 1, 2023, the makeup of the court is: The Clerk of the Supreme Court of Missouri is responsible for a wide range of duties, including the supervision of the internal administrative function of the Court itself as well as the planning and administrative direction of the Missouri Judicial Conference,
200-456: Is 70, after which a judge may elect to go on senior status . Source Source Source The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, is located in the historic Old Post Office building in downtown St. Louis. The address is One Post Office Square, 815 Olive Street, Room 304, St. Louis, Missouri 63101. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District is located in its own courthouse in downtown Kansas City. The courthouse—built in 1982—is
225-491: Is involved, that the laws should be re-examined, or that the lower court's decision conflicts with an earlier appellate decision. This is similar to the process the United States Supreme Court uses in accepting cases. In addition, the Court of Appeals may transfer a case to the Supreme Court after an opinion is issued, either upon application of one of the parties or at the request of one of the judges on
250-412: Is issued, either upon application of one of the parties or at the request of one of the judges on the appellate panel. Additionally the Supreme Court hears all impeachments of elective officers - except for governor or a member of the supreme court, for them a special commission is provided. In addition to issuing legal decisions, the Supreme Court supervises the lower state courts with the assistance of
275-529: The Constitution of Missouri , Court of Appeals judges must be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri, a United States citizen for at least 15 years, a qualified voter of the state for nine years preceding selection, and a resident of the appellate district in which the judge serves. Judges serve a term of twelve years, but may seek additional terms. Mandatory retirement age for judges
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#1732773371410300-625: The Missouri Plan . Under the plan, the Appellate Judicial Commission submits the names of three nominees to the governor. If the governor fails to make an appointment with 60 days of the nominees being named, the Commission shall make the appointment. Judges serving for at least a year are placed on the general election ballot for a retention vote of the people. If retained, judges serve a term of 12 years. At
325-404: The Court's discretion – if it determines that a question of general interest or importance is involved, that the laws should be re-examined, or that the lower court's decision conflicts with an earlier appellate decision. This is similar to the process the United States Supreme Court uses in accepting cases. In addition, the Court of Appeals may transfer a case to the Supreme Court after an opinion
350-598: The Eastern District, and appeals taken from trials in Jackson County (Kansas City) will go to the Western District. After a case is decided in the Court of Appeals, the losing party may choose to accept the result, or to appeal further to the Supreme Court of Missouri . In most appeals, the Supreme Court of Missouri may, and often does, reject an appeal from the Court of Appeals (called " discretionary jurisdiction "). Historically, less than ten percent of
375-512: The Office of State Courts Administrator ("OSCA"). OSCA oversees court programs, provides technical assistance, manages the budget of the state's judicial branch, and conducts educational programs. The Supreme Court also issues practice and procedure rules for Missouri court cases, including procedure and evidence rules. The Supreme Court licenses attorneys practicing in Missouri, and disciplines lawyers and judges for violating ethical rules. Judges of
400-553: The appeal must go directly to the Missouri Supreme Court. If an appeal does not fall within one of these five categories, the Missouri Court of Appeals may hear the case. The Missouri court of appeals functions by issuing written judicial opinions . These opinions create precedent for future cases within each District's geographic region. These opinions are available to the public. The court publishes
425-495: The appeals heard by the Missouri Court of Appeals are transferred to the Supreme Court. Thus, for the vast majority of appeals, the Court of Appeals decision is final. The Missouri Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over all appeals which do not fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Missouri . The five categories of appeals over which the Supreme Court exercises exclusive jurisdiction are: Therefore, if an appeal falls within one of these five categories,
450-435: The appellate panel. Additionally the Supreme Court hears all impeachments of elective officers - except for governor or a member of the supreme court, for them a special commission is provided. In addition to issuing legal decisions, the Supreme Court supervises the lower state courts with the assistance of the Office of State Courts Administrator ("OSCA"). OSCA oversees court programs, provides technical assistance, manages
475-515: The budget of the state's judicial branch, and conducts educational programs. The Supreme Court also issues practice and procedure rules for Missouri court cases, including procedure and evidence rules. The Supreme Court licenses attorneys practicing in Missouri, and disciplines lawyers and judges for violating ethical rules. Judges of the court are selected through the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, nationally known as
500-424: The court are selected through the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, nationally known as the Missouri Plan . Under the plan, the Appellate Judicial Commission submits the names of three nominees to the governor. If the governor fails to make an appointment with 60 days of the nominees being named, the Commission shall make the appointment. Judges serving for at least a year are placed on the general election ballot for
525-478: The opinions to its website when they are issued. There are fourteen judges in the Eastern District, eleven judges in the Western District, and seven judges in the Southern District. Judges are selected via the Missouri Plan . Often, a district will have fewer judges than normal because of a vacancy, which occurs after a sitting judge leaves the Court and before a new judge can be appointed. Under
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#1732773371410550-878: The organization of all the state's judges . As of January 1, 2017, the clerk is Betsy AuBuchon, the first woman to serve in that position. Missouri Court of Appeals The Missouri Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state of Missouri . The court handles most of the appeals from the Missouri Circuit Courts . The court is divided into three geographic districts: Eastern (based in St. Louis ), Western (based in Kansas City ), and Southern (based in Springfield ). For example, appeals taken from trials in St. Louis County will go to
575-549: The state's only intermediate appellate courthouse. The address is 1300 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2970. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, is located in the Hammons Building in Springfield, Missouri. The address is 300 Hammons Parkway, Springfield, Missouri 65806. Supreme Court of Missouri The Supreme Court of Missouri is the highest court in the state of Missouri . It
600-518: The time of its establishment, the court had three judges, which was expanded to five in 1872, and seven in 1890. The following is a list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Missouri or which came to the Supreme Court of the United States from the Supreme Court of Missouri. Since 1973, the Supreme Court of Missouri has heard all cases en banc (before all seven judges). Before that many cases were heard by panels of three judges. Cases heard en banc are cited as "Mo. banc"; older cases heard by
625-573: Was established in 1820 and is located at 207 West High Street in Jefferson City , Missouri. Missouri voters have approved changes in the state's constitution to give the Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction – the sole legal power to hear – over five types of cases on appeal. Pursuant to Article V, Section 3 of the Missouri Constitution , these cases involve: Unless their case involves one of those five issues, people who want
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