Missouri has more than 500 municipal divisions, many with unique governing structures that may differ from circuit to circuit. This has led to differing and sometimes inconsistent experiences in Missouri’s municipal divisions, oftentimes resulting in confusion and concern about how Missouri’s municipal divisions have operated.

To address these issues, the Supreme Court of Missouri appointed the Municipal Working Group, which crafted 35 recommendations that were submitted on March 1, 2016, to the Supreme Court of Missouri. The Supreme Court took swift action to begin implementing these recommendations and adopted "Minimum Operating Standards for Municipal Divisions." Subsequent changes include:

• Improved accountability for the municipal divisions as a result of new operating standards and new requirements for monitoring and reporting by the circuit presiding judges to the Supreme Court of Missouri.
• Heightened focus on separation of powers and elimination of conflicts of interest, including requiring court clerks to be independent of prosecutors, police departments, and city officials.
• Improvements to considerations of ability to pay to avoid arrest or undue financial burden upon someone with a minor fine or fee, regulations on warrants and incarcerations, and the provision of community service in lieu of financial payments.
• The consolidation of 15 Missouri municipal division in St. Louis County (9 in Normandy and 6 in St. Ann), streamlining staff and efficiency.