Supreme Court of Missouri
en banc

In re:  Supreme Court Criminal Rules Requiring the Defendant’s Personal Appearance During the COVID-19 Pandemic


Due to the declaration of national and state emergencies following the classification of COVID-19 as a pandemic, judges and courts have been directed by prior order of this Court to exercise their discretion to conduct proceedings by teleconferencing, video conferencing or other available technology.  To facilitate this directive, the Court enters this administrative order.

Any procedural Supreme Court or local rule that can be interpreted to require the personal appearance of a defendant at a criminal or ordinance violation hearing or proceeding is hereby suspended.  This suspension does not pertain to any constitutional or statutory provision governing a defendant’s right to be present at a proceeding.

This order shall remain in effect until further order from this Court.