24 March 2020
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In response to COVID-19 and the Supreme Court of Missouri’s recent orders suspending all in-person proceedings in all Missouri appellate and circuit courts, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, announces additional changes to court operations effective immediately and until further notice by the court.
While the court remains open for business, in-person oral arguments scheduled between April 6, 2020 and April 30, 2020 are cancelled in all cases, and all such cases will be deemed submitted on the briefs absent a timely request for teleconference oral argument as explained more fully in the court’s administrative order dated March 24, 2020. Additionally, all cases scheduled to be heard at a location other than the courthouse have been suspended and may be rescheduled if conditions permit. As the situation develops, the court will determine whether additional oral argument dockets will be cancelled or held by teleconferencing. Any local, criminal, or civil rules that would impede use of teleconferencing or the submission of cases on brief are suspended until further notice. Notice of any change in dockets after April 30 will be provided by the court through Missouri’s electronic filing system.
In light of the foregoing, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, issued an order temporarily suspending the following provision of Western District Special Rule 1:
In cases in which it is the opinion of the court that oral argument would not benefit the appeal, a letter shall be sent by the Court to the parties or parties’ attorneys advising them of this fact. The parties can request oral argument in writing within 10 days of [the] date of the letter.
The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, may exercise its discretion to waive, for good cause shown, any filing deadlines or time limitations set through the electronic filing system or by order of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, our local rules, or Missouri Supreme Court Rules 41 through 81. This authorization does not apply to any constitutional or statutory deadlines or time limitations.
Additionally, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, issued an order temporarily suspending Western District Special Rule 12 requirements to file paper copies of briefs and transcripts by registered users of the electronic filing system. Attorneys should not forward or attempt to file any paper copies until further order of the court. Litigants who are not represented by counsel may still file paper copies of filings but are encouraged to use alternate means of filing documents under Western District Special Rule 13, such as by mailing, electronic mail attachment, or by facsimile, as allowed under that rule, rather than in-person delivery of copies to the courthouse.
To prevent potential exposure, visitors who meet any of the following criteria will not be permitted to enter the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District:
- Any person who has traveled to any foreign country within the last 14 days;
- Any person who resides or has had close contact with someone who has travelled to any foreign country within the last 14 days;
- Any person who has been asked to self-quarantine by any doctor, hospital, or health agency;
- Any person who has been diagnosed with, or has had contact with, anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
- Any person with unexplained fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
These restrictions will remain in place until further notice. For additional information concerning the status of an appeal or the court’s operations, please call the Clerk’s office at (816) 889-3600.
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Contact: Susan Sonnenberg, clerk of court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District
(816) 889-3600
susan.sonnenberg@courts.mo.gov