Overview

There are several documents about our court and the Missouri court system in general you may find helpful:

• A brochure about the Jackson County Circuit Court
• A one page handout diagramming the Missouri Court System
• A brochure explaining the Missouri Non-partisan Court Plan selection process for Judges
• Jackson County Circuit Court Organization Chart

The 16th Judicial Circuit serves all of Jackson County, a population of more than 660,000 people. The county includes 18 municipalities including Kansas City, Independence, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Oak Grove and Raytown, just to name a few.

There are 19 Circuit Judges, 9 Associate Circuit Judges and 8 Commissioners in the 16th Judicial Circuit of Jackson County. One judge is elected Presiding Judge for a two-year term by the judges as a group. Judges and Commissioners preside over civil, criminal and family court cases.

The 16th Circuit is one of 45 Circuit Courts in the State. Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdictions. The types of cases handled by Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over include:

• Civil (including civil appeals) 0$/no maximum; associate divisions handling $0/$25,000
• Small claims ($3,000)
• Criminal
• Traffic/other violations
• Juvenile

Trials

Jury trials are held in many cases in Circuit Court.

The trial process includes:

• Jury Selection
• Opening Statements
• Presentation of Evidence & Testimony
• Closing Arguments
• Jury Instructions and Verdict

The judge serves as the court’s presiding officer and as the final authority on the law. Jurors listen to opening statements and closing arguments for both sides. During the trial, jurors hear testimony of witnesses and view exhibits of evidence. Before retiring to decide the facts of the case, jurors are instructed by the judge on how to weigh what they have seen and heard.

Missouri Courts

Missouri employs seven Supreme Court judges, 32 appellate judges, 135 circuit judges, 188 associate circuit court judges and 33 commissioners.

Between fiscal 1996 and 2005, total trial court case filings increased by more than 23% while associate circuit divisions’ civil cases increased 38.5% increase, circuit felony filings rose 23.6% and filings for adult abuse and child protection orders rose 47%.

There are approximately 2,830 non-judge positions in the Judicial Branch, consisting of court clerks, reporters, juvenile officers and administrative personnel.

In fiscal 2004, the Judiciary budget was only 1.625 percent of the overall general revenue budget. The Judiciary spends more than 79 percent of its budget in its circuit courts, about 98 percent of which is for salaries for judges and court personnel. Counties are required to fund the operations of the circuit courts.

In 2004, the Judiciary received more than $367.5 million as cost deposits, bonds, fines, fees, surcharges, garnishments, restitution, court judgments, and prosecutor and law enforcement training funds, and sheriff’s fees. Of that amount, approximately $35 million was paid back into general revenue or other funds the state administers.

In fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004, the public schools received more than $29 million from fines and escheats the courts collected.