Rule 6 - Assignment of Judges, Cases, and Transfer of Cases
Rule 6.2.4 - Case Assignment
1. Civil and domestic relations cases shall be assigned to trial divisions in accordance with these rules, as directed by the Presiding Judge. Assignment may be made by the Court Administrator or his or her deputies in a manner approved by the Presiding Judge.
2. Petitions in civil and domestic relations cases carrying the caption “In the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, at Kansas City” shall be assigned to a Kansas City division as provided below. Petitions in civil and domestic relations cases carrying the caption “In the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, at Independence” shall be assigned to an Independence division as provided below. If a petition fails to specify the location where venue is appropriate, such case shall be assigned to a division at the location where the case is filed.
3. The Court Administrator shall assign cases randomly and in equal numbers to the available trial divisions in Kansas City or Independence as provided in paragraph 2 above.
4. The following are exceptions to the method of assignment as provided in paragraphs 2and 3 of this rule:
(a) The following actions shall be filed in Kansas City and assigned to a Kansas City division:
(1) Applications for a trial de novo from the Kansas City Municipal Division which shall be assigned as provided by the Presiding Judge.
(2) Applications for hearing on a refusal to submit to a chemical test and petitions for trial de novo, filed pursuant to Section 302.535 RSMo where the proceeding arises out of an arrest made in Jackson County and within the city limits of Kansas City.
(3) All suits for enforcement of mechanic’s liens on real estate situated in Kaw township.
(b) The following actions shall be filed in Independence and assigned to an Independence division:
(1) Applications for a trial de novo in cases in the Municipal Division of Independence or any municipality other than the City of Kansas City Municipal which shall be assigned as provided by the Presiding Judge.
(2) Applications for hearing on a refusal to submit to a chemical test and petitions for trial de novo, filed pursuant to Section 302.535 RSMo where the proceeding arises out of an arrest made in Jackson County and outside the city limits of Kansas City.
(c) Post-conviction motions filed pursuant to Supreme Court Rules 24.035 and 29.15 shall be given a civil case number and be assigned to the division which imposed sentence. The case shall remain in that division until disposed of unless the judge of that division is disqualified. In such event, the case will be reassigned to another division and that division shall retain the case in division until it is disposed of.
(d) Petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus shall be assigned as follows:
(1) All such petitions involving a petitioner who is incarcerated at the time of filing shall be assigned to Criminal “A” and will be assigned to a trial division at the location specified in paragraph 2, above.
(2) All such petitions involving a minor whose custody is either at issue or has been determined in a domestic action filed in the 16th Judicial Circuit shall be assigned randomly to a family court division at the location specified in paragraph 2, above.
(3) All such petitions involving a juvenile and not governed by (d)(2) above shall be assigned to the Administrative Judge of the Family Court for reassignment as deemed appropriate.
(e) Petitions alleging medical neglect by a parent of a child under eighteen (18) years of age shall be assigned to the Administrative Judge of the Family Court for reassignment as deemed appropriate.
(f) Adoption cases shall be assigned to the Administrative Judge of the Family Court for reassignment as deemed appropriate and shall be heard at the location where venue is appropriate.
5. After a civil or domestic case has been assigned in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this rule, it shall remain on that division until tried or otherwise disposed of, unless it is transferred to another division or docket in accordance with these Rules.
6. The Court Administrator shall have the responsibility of transmitting the file to the division to which the case is assigned.
Adopted 11/18/05
Effective 12/18/05