Chief Justice Commentaries

Chief Justice Mary R. Russell These "Justice Matters" commentaries provide Missouri's chief justice an opportunity to reflect on a variety of issues related to the state's courts and legal system. They are published periodically.

For more information, please contact Beth Riggert, communications counsel for the Supreme Court of Missouri, by calling (573) 751-3676 or by e-mailing beth.riggert@courts.mo.gov.

Commentaries from Missouri Chief Justice Mary R. Russell, serving as chief justice from July 2023 through June 2025, are linked below.

Date	Title
24 June 2025	Seeing first-hand the vital role court staff play in serving communities statewide
29 May 2025	Man's best friend ... may be in a court near you!
25 April 2025	Jury selection process has improved through the years
25 March 2025	Not in our wildest dreams
15 January 2025	Treatment court programs help participants find new beginnings
12 December 2024	Wishing everyone a happy holiday season ... especially those who open their hearts to help children in need
6 November 2024	Missouri chief justice expresses gratitude for military members
October 23, 2024	Understanding the variety of judicial elections in Missouri
September 30, 2024	Judiciary promotes transparency for Missourians to access their courts
August 21, 2024	Adoptions serve as highlight for children, families ... and judges too
July 24, 2024	Judges go back to school every year too!
June 20, 2024	Missouri’s attorney discipline system has worked to protect the public for 90 years!
May 24, 2024	Your fellow Missourians count on you to answer the call for jury service
April 24, 2024	Better understanding ‘we’ are ‘the people’ responsible for shaping our shared governance
March 28, 2024	Baseball analogies only partially explain what judges do
February 29, 2024	Celebrating African Americans, women in our legal profession, courts
January 24, 2024	Missouri judges work every day to be ethical, earn title of 'honor'
December 26, 2023	New year brings changing of judicial guardians
December 5, 2023	Gentlewoman leaves legacy of generational change
November 20, 2023	Giving thanks to those at the heart of our court system

(Periodic, 2005 through 2013)	(Archived columns)

Date

Title