Supreme Court of Missouri
en banc
August 24, 1999
ORDER
1. The attached Trial Court Performance Standards developed by the National Center for State Courts are hereby approved for use by all Missouri trial courts. This Court encourages all Missouri trial courts to review and implement these standards, but their use is not mandatory.
2. The office of state courts administrator shall distribute a copy of this order and the attachment to each presiding circuit judge.
2. The office of state courts administrator shall distribute a copy of this order and the attachment to each presiding circuit judge.
Day - to - Day
WILLIAM RAY PRICE, JR.
Chief Justice
TRIAL COURT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
AREA 1 - ACCESS TO JUSTICE
1.1 Public Proceedings. The trial court conducts its proceedings and other public business
openly.
1.2 Safety, Accessibility and Convenience. Trial court facilities are safe, accessible, and
convenient to use.
1.3 Effective Participation. The trial court gives all who appear before it the opportunity to
participate effectively, without undue hardship or inconvenience.
1.4 Courtesy, Responsiveness and Respect. Judges and other trial court personnel are courteous
and responsive to the public and accord respect to all with whom they come in contact.
1.5 Affordable Costs of Access. The costs of access to trial court proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - are reasonable, fair, and affordable.
openly.
1.2 Safety, Accessibility and Convenience. Trial court facilities are safe, accessible, and
convenient to use.
1.3 Effective Participation. The trial court gives all who appear before it the opportunity to
participate effectively, without undue hardship or inconvenience.
1.4 Courtesy, Responsiveness and Respect. Judges and other trial court personnel are courteous
and responsive to the public and accord respect to all with whom they come in contact.
1.5 Affordable Costs of Access. The costs of access to trial court proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - are reasonable, fair, and affordable.
AREA 2 - EXPEDITION AND TIMELINESS
2.1 Case Processing. The trial court establishes and complies with recognized guidelines for timely case processing while, at the same time, keeping current with its incoming caseload.
2.2 Compliance with Schedules. The trial court disburses funds promptly, provides reports and information according to required schedules, and responds to requests for information and other services on an established schedule that assures their effective use.
2.3 Prompt Implementation of Law and Procedure. The trial court promptly implements changes in law and procedure.
2.2 Compliance with Schedules. The trial court disburses funds promptly, provides reports and information according to required schedules, and responds to requests for information and other services on an established schedule that assures their effective use.
2.3 Prompt Implementation of Law and Procedure. The trial court promptly implements changes in law and procedure.
AREA 3 - EQUALITY, FAIRNESS AND INTEGRITY
3.1 Fair and Reliable Judicial Process. Trial court procedures faithfully adhere to relevant laws, procedural rules, and established policies.
3.2 Juries. Jury lists are representative of the jurisdiction from which they are drawn.
3.3 Court Decisions and Actions. Trial courts give individual attention to cases, deciding them without undue disparity among like cases and upon legally relevant factors.
3.4 Clarity. The trial court renders decisions that unambiguously address the issues presented to it and clearly indicate how compliance can be achieved.
3.5 Responsibility for Enforcement. The trial court takes appropriate responsibility for enforcement of its orders.
3.6 Production and Preservation of Records. Records of all relevant court decisions and actions are accurate and properly preserved.
3.2 Juries. Jury lists are representative of the jurisdiction from which they are drawn.
3.3 Court Decisions and Actions. Trial courts give individual attention to cases, deciding them without undue disparity among like cases and upon legally relevant factors.
3.4 Clarity. The trial court renders decisions that unambiguously address the issues presented to it and clearly indicate how compliance can be achieved.
3.5 Responsibility for Enforcement. The trial court takes appropriate responsibility for enforcement of its orders.
3.6 Production and Preservation of Records. Records of all relevant court decisions and actions are accurate and properly preserved.
AREA 4 - INDEPENDENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
4.1 Independence and Comity. The trial court maintains its institutional integrity and observes the principle of comity in governmental relations.
4.2 Accountability for Public Resources. The trial court responsibly seeks, uses, and accounts for its public resources.
4.3 Personnel Practices and Decisions. The trial court uses fair employment practices.
4.4 Public Education. The trial court informs the community about its programs.
4.5 Response to Change. The trial court anticipates new conditions and emergent events and adjusts its operations as necessary.
4.2 Accountability for Public Resources. The trial court responsibly seeks, uses, and accounts for its public resources.
4.3 Personnel Practices and Decisions. The trial court uses fair employment practices.
4.4 Public Education. The trial court informs the community about its programs.
4.5 Response to Change. The trial court anticipates new conditions and emergent events and adjusts its operations as necessary.
AREA 5 - PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
5.1 Accessibility. The public perceives the trial court and the justice it delivers as accessible.
5.2 Expeditious, Fair, and Reliable Court Functions. The public has trust and confidence that basic court functions are conducted expeditiously and fairly, and that court decisions have integrity.
5.3 Judicial Independence and Accountability. The public perceives the trial court as independent, not unduly influenced by other components of government, and accountable.
5.2 Expeditious, Fair, and Reliable Court Functions. The public has trust and confidence that basic court functions are conducted expeditiously and fairly, and that court decisions have integrity.
5.3 Judicial Independence and Accountability. The public perceives the trial court as independent, not unduly influenced by other components of government, and accountable.