13th Judicial Circuit of Missouri Judges & Commissioners

The Missouri Judiciary consists of three levels of courts: The trial courts (also known as the circuit courts), an intermediate appellate court (the Missouri Court of Appeals) that is divided into three regional districts, and the Supreme Court of Missouri.

The circuit courts are the primary trial courts in Missouri and have general jurisdiction (authority) over almost all civil and criminal matters. Every Missouri county has a court and these courts are organized into 46 regional circuits throughout the state.

The 13th Judicial Circuit Court, encompassing Boone and Callaway counties, consists of several divisions including circuit, associate circuit, small claims, municipal, criminal, family, probate and juvenile. The type of case determines the division to which a particular case is assigned.

The 13th Judicial Circuit is made up of 11 elected judges, one Family Court Commissioner and one Treatment Court Commissioner. The judges are elected by popular vote.  There are five elected circuit judges, and six elected associate circuit judges. The circuit judges are elected by constituents of both Boone and Callaway counties, and the associate circuit judges are elected by the county in which they reside and represent.  By statute, the number of associate circuit judges is based on the population of the county. Boone County has four associate circuit judges, and Callaway County has two associate circuit judges.  The qualifications for a judge are governed by article V, section 21 of the Missouri Constitution. The Family Court Commissioner is appointed pursuant to section 487.020. The Treatment Court Commissioner is appointed pursuant to section 478.003.

There is a presiding judge who is elected by the judges of the 13th Circuit. The role of presiding judge is the chief administrative officer over all other divisions. Among other things, the presiding judge is responsible for:

• presiding over court en banc meetings,
• supervising and appointing committees as needed,
• establishing procedures,
• docket schedules and making docket assignments among divisions, and
• appointing personnel as provided by law to aid in conducting the business of the court.

Each judge sits in a division.  Judges are often referred to by their division. Divisions I, II, III, IV, and XIII are presided over by circuit judges.  Divisions V, IX, X and XI are presided over by Boone County associate circuit judges; divisions VI and VII are presided over by Callaway County associate circuit judges.  Division VIII is the family court commissioner. Division XII is the treatment court commissioner.