Judicial System

Missouri Supreme Court

                -Highest court in Missouri

                -7 judges (justices)

                -Term: 12 years (can serve 2 terms)

                -Qualifications:

                                -30 years old

                                -US citizen for 15 years

                                -9 years voter in Missouri

                                -Licensed

                -Jurisdiction

                                -Appellate

                                -Exclusive

                                                -Whether a US treaty/law is valid

                                                -Involves part of the Missouri constitution

                                                -Entitlement to state office

                                                -Imposition of death penalty

                -Can issue writs (orders)

                -Supervises all lower courts

                -Licenses all lawyers

Missouri Court of Appeals

                -3 (Eastern, Western, Southern)

                -Qualifications and term: same

                -32 judges

                -Only has appellate jurisdiction

                -Appeals heard by groups of 3 judges

Circuit Courts

                -AKA “lower courts”, “trial courts”

                -45 circuit courts

                -3 levels

                                -Circuit, associate circuit, municipal

                -Term: 6 years

                -Elected

                -Qualifications:

                                -30 years old

                                -Resident of circuit

                                -US citizen 10 years

                                -Missouri voter 3 years

                                -Licensed lawyer

                -Jurisdiction

                                -Original

                -This is the only court where there are juries (12 members plus 1 alternate)

                -Pretty much all civil and criminal trials start here

                -St. Francois County is in the 24th judicial circuit

Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan

                -AKA “Missouri Plan”

                -Supreme Court judges, Courts of Appeals, Jackson County judges, St. Louis City judges

                -Appointment / election

                -3 member commission nominates 3 people for position

                                -Sup. Court judge, a member chosen by Missouri Bar, member chosen by governor

                                -Governor picks one of three within 60 days

                                                -If governor doesn’t pick, commission picks

                                                -Governor can veto all of them and commission restarts process

                -Once judge is appointed, begins serving term

                                -After 1 year, people vote to “retain” judge

                -After term is up, can be “retained” for another term

Terms

                -Plea Bargain

                -Judicial review

                -Tort

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