The Supreme Court was created in 1820, the year before Missouri officially became a state. Since the state's third constitution was adopted in 1875, the Supreme Court has been located in Jefferson City, the state's capital. In 1877, a building for the Supreme Court was constructed at a cost of $17,000 just east of the Capitol Building, where the state's department of transportation now is located.

In 1905, using a portion of the proceeds from the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, the general assembly appropriated $400,000 to build the present Supreme Court Building. This three-story, red-brick building, which opened in October 1907, features French Renaissance architecture, stone pillars at each wing of the front façade, stone trim and a slate roof. Prominent in its lobby is a massive marble staircase.

The building houses the offices of the Supreme Court clerk and the clerk’s staff, two courtrooms, the two-story Supreme Court Library, and, by statute, the office of the state attorney general. 

When the building was designed, Supreme Court judges came from their hometowns around the state to Jefferson City three months out of the year to hear and decide cases. For that reason, their chambers included small apartment areas off each judge’s office. Today the judges hear cases nine or 10 months each year, and their chambers have been remodeled to accommodate their staff of two law clerks and an administrative assistant.

Tours

The Supreme Court of Missouri welcomes visitors to its building throughout the year. Free guided tours, lasting approximately 30 minutes, may be scheduled on the half-hour from 9 to11 a.m. and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays and when the Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments. Reservations are preferred for all groups and are required for groups of 10 or more. Please be advised all visitors to the building are subject to security screening measures.

To schedule a tour, please contact the Court's interpretive resource specialist, Becky Leathers, by telephone at (573) 751-7331 or by e-mail at Tours.Calendar@courts.mo.gov. Spring months are especially busy with school groups, so please call or e-mail as far in advance as possible to schedule a tour during that time. 

The Court welcomes individuals with disabilities or other special needs to tour the building and observe oral arguments and will assist in making special accommodations for such visitors.

Observing Oral Arguments

The Supreme Court also welcomes visitors to observe oral arguments, which normally are held from September through May and are scheduled for several days during each of those months. The arguments in most cases last about 30 minutes, although some cases – including death penalty cases – are given additional time for argument. For most argument sessions, four cases are scheduled. The Court prefers that visitors be seated in the courtroom before oral arguments begin. Please be advised all visitors to the building are subject to security screening measures. 

The courtroom in which oral arguments are held can accommodate up to 55 visitors. With at least 24 hours advance notice, additional seating can be provided in an auxiliary courtroom connected to the main courtroom via closed circuit television. To schedule a group to observe oral arguments, please contact the Supreme Court communications counsel, Beth Riggert, by calling (573) 751-4144 or by e-mailing beth.riggert@courts.mo.gov. 

The Court welcomes individuals with disabilities or other special needs to visit the building and observe oral arguments and will assist in making special accommodations for such visitors.