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Greene County associate circuit judge speaks with Missouri State University ‘Criminal Law and the Courts’ class

14 February 2019
 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Judge Becky Borthwick, an associate circuit judge in Greene County (in the 31st Judicial Circuit) took over teaching duties last night in the “Criminal Law and the Courts” class at Missouri State University in Springfield.

Borthwick focused her discussion on the types of alternative and treatment courts Missouri offers throughout the state as well as the Missouri Nonpartisan Plan for selecting judges, including those in the 31st circuit.

photo of Greene County Associate Circuit Judge Becky Borthwick meeting with MSU Criminal Law & the Courts class in February 2019
Judge Becky Borthwick (front row, center, in suit) meets with the MSU Criminal Law & the Courts class.
Missouri offers a variety of treatment courts throughout the state to help nonviolent offenders break the cycle of addiction or mental illness underlying their criminal conduct while remaining under intense supervision in their communities so they can continue to work, pay taxes and support their families. Treatment courts have proven to be a cost-effective method of diverting nonviolent offenders from incarceration in the state’s prisons while reducing their risk of reoffending. Greene County has treatment courts focused on families, veterans and DWI offenses.

“So often people only see the courts as a place to bring traditional resolutions to disputes,” Borthwick said. “But our treatment court programs truly are problem-solving alternatives, giving judges authority over a well-rounded treatment team dedicated to resolving an offender’s underlying issues. As I told the students last night, there is nothing more rewarding than listening to the success stories of our treatment court graduates during their graduation ceremonies. It’s something I wish everyone in our community could witness at least once.”

Borthwick also discussed the nonpartisan plan for selecting judges. Missouri was the first state to adopt merit selection in 1940, applying then to judges of the state supreme court, appeals court and trial courts in Jackson County and St. Louis city. Local voters adopted the plan in the 1970s in Clay and Platte counties near Kansas City and in St. Louis County. In 2008, voters in Greene County adopted the nonpartisan plan as well. Focusing on Greene County, Borthwick explained how a panel of citizens, lawyers and a judge screen applicants for all judicial vacancies, then submit a panel of three well-qualified nominees for the governor’s consideration. She explained the voters keep the final say, as the judge appointed by the governor must stand for periodic retention elections.

The professor reported later the students provided very positive feedback about the presentation, remarking how much they enjoyed Borthwick’s visit. She has served as an associate circuit judge in Greene County since April 2016 and previously served as Springfield’s full-time municipal judge.

Borthwick is just one of many judges throughout the state participating in the Supreme Court of Missouri civic education committee’s “Have Gavel, Will Travel” program, and about a dozen presentations are available. To request a presentation in your school or community, please visit https://www.courts.mo.gov/CivicEducation/presentations/.


For more information about the activities of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s Committee on Civic Education, please visit News & Media.