Supreme Court of Missouri Decisions
Founded in 1820, the Missouri Supreme Court has the discretion to review appeals of cases that involve questions of general interest or importance. It also may review an appeal if a lower court reaches a decision that conflicts with a pre-existing appellate decision, or if the Supreme Court finds that the law should be re-examined. The Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over appeals in certain types of cases, such as those involving the death penalty, challenges to the outcome of an election, or challenges to the validity of state or federal laws or provisions of the state constitution.
Of the seven members of the Missouri Supreme Court, only the Chief Justice is known as a justice, while the other six members are known as judges. Article V, Section 21 of the Missouri Constitution provides the qualifications for becoming a judge on the Court. A candidate must be at least 30 years old, a qualified voter in Missouri for at least nine years, a U.S. citizen for at least 15 years, and licensed to practice law in Missouri. A judge must retire when they reach the age of 70.
Judges are selected in a process known as the Missouri Plan. This involves a list of three candidates submitted by the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission to the Governor of Missouri. The seven-member Commission consists of the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, three attorneys chosen by the Missouri State Bar, and three citizens of Missouri who are appointed by the Governor. If the Governor does not choose one of the candidates provided by the Commission, the Commission will choose one of them. A newly appointed judge must go through a retention election in the first general election that occurs at least one year after their appointment. If they win this election, they will serve a 12-year term. The judges on the Missouri Supreme Court elect the Chief Justice, who serves a two-year term.
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Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Missouri
Date: April 2, 2024
Docket Number: SC100172
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2019, MO CANN Do, Inc. (MCD) applied for a medical marijuana cultivation license in Missouri. However, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) rejected MCD's application as it failed to include a…
Date: March 20, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC100388, SC100486
Justia Opinion Summary: On December 13, 2023, the Supreme Court of Missouri issued an execution warrant for Brian Dorsey, who is serving a death sentence for two counts of first-degree murder. Subsequently, Dorsey filed two petitions for writ…
Date: March 5, 2024
Docket Number: SC100099
Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiff, Yarnell, filed a wrongful death action against Clinton No. 1, Inc., a healthcare and rehabilitation center, alleging that Clinton's negligence led to her mother's death from COVID-19. The Missouri Supreme…
Date: March 5, 2024
Docket Number: SC100369
Justia Opinion Summary: Seven individuals sought a writ of mandamus or prohibition from the Supreme Court of Missouri, claiming the circuit court failed to hold a preliminary hearing within the required timeframe, thus violating Rule 22.09(a),…
Date: February 14, 2024
Docket Number: SC100219
Justia Opinion Summary: The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in a case involving the St. Louis County Assessor ("Assessor") and a group of St. Louis County commercial property owners, referred to as "Taxpayers." The Taxpayers alleged that their…
Date: February 14, 2024
Docket Number: SC100277
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of Missouri affirmed a lower court's decision that a redistricting plan for the Missouri Senate, which was prepared by a judicial redistricting commission, met constitutional requirements.…
Date: February 14, 2024
Docket Number: SC99966
Justia Opinion Summary: In Missouri, Planned Parenthood and other affiliated health organizations sought a declaratory judgment declaring House Bill No. 3014 (HB 3014) unconstitutional and requested injunctive relief to prevent its…
Date: January 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100041
Justia Opinion Summary: On March 21, 2019, David Scott Nowicki was discovered unconscious in a vehicle in a ditch off Interstate 70 in Saline County, Missouri. After conducting field sobriety tests, Sergeant Dunfee concluded that Nowicki was…
Date: January 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100089
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2012, Dane Templeton suffered an injury to his right knee and thigh after being thrown from a golf cart. Dr. Charles Orth operated on Templeton’s injured leg and provided follow-up care for several months. In 2015,…
Date: January 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100116
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Missouri reversed a lower court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by workers against Harley-Davidson Motor Company Operations, Inc., and Syncreon.US. The workers, who are Black or People of Color,…
Date: January 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC99876
Justia Opinion Summary: In the case of City of St. Louis and Heather Taylor (“Appellants”) versus State of Missouri (“State”), the Supreme Court of Missouri analyzed Senate Bill No. 26 (“SB 26”) that was challenged for being unconstitutional.…
Date: January 9, 2024
Docket Number: SC100110
Justia Opinion Summary: On August 12, 2018, Rachel Sender suffered injuries in a bicycle accident on a bike path in Forest Park, St. Louis. Sender claimed her injuries were due to a defect on the path, and she notified the City of St. Louis of…
Date: January 9, 2024
Docket Number: SC100136
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Missouri affirmed the judgment of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County terminating a father's parental rights to his child. The father had been convicted of two felony violations, each involving a…
Date: December 19, 2023
Docket Number: SC100030
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Missouri reversed a lower court's judgment in a negligence case involving a hospital and an individual who was shot on the hospital's property. The plaintiff, Steven Harner, had sued Mercy Hospital…
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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