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: November 21, 2023
Docket Number: SC100006
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the final award of the labor and industrial relations commission affirming and adopting an administrative law judge's award of permanent total disability benefits to Jannie Harper under the…
Date: November 21, 2023
Docket Number: SC99995
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission finding that Maryann Gray's applications for review were timely filed pursuant to Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.480 and overruling Hawthorn…
Date: November 7, 2023
Docket Number: SC100084
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court overruling Appellant's Mo. R. Crim. P. 24.035 motion for postconviction relief, holding that the circuit court did not clearly err in concluding that counsel…
Date: November 7, 2023
Docket Number: SC99961
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the circuit court overruling GoJet Airlines, LLC's motion to compel arbitration in this breach of contract action brought by Hampton Brown and remanded this case to compel…
Date: November 7, 2023
Docket Number: SC99998
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Administrative Hearing Commission determining that Walmart Starco LLC was exempt from use tax for its purchase and use of information technology equipment pursuant to Mo.…
Date: October 3, 2023
Docket Number: SC99977
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court dismissed this appeal brought by the State of an order and judgment dismissing with prejudice criminal charges against Defendant, holding that there was no final, appealable judgment, and therefore, the…
Date: August 29, 2023
Docket Number: SC99949
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court granted a writ of prohibition barring the circuit court from taking any further action in Petitioner's criminal case other than dismissing the pending charges against him, holding that the Interstate…
Date: August 15, 2023
Docket Numbers: SC99719, SC99823
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court convicting Caitlyn Williams and Tamara LaRue (together, Parents) of failing to cause their children to attend school on a regular basis in violation of…
Date: August 15, 2023
Docket Number: SC99864
Justia Opinion Summary: In this declaratory judgment action, the Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the circuit court overruling the motion to intervene as a matter of right filed by St. Louis and Jackson counties (the Counties), holding…
Date: August 15, 2023
Docket Number: SC99942
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court made permanent a preliminary writ it issued granting Monsanto Company's petition for a writ of prohibition or mandamus requiring the St. Louis circuit court to transfer venue of five of the six…
Date: August 15, 2023
Docket Number: SC99978
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the order of the Public Service Commission granting the joint application of Missouri-American Water Company and DCM Land LLC for variances from Missouri-American Water Company's tariff absent…
Date: July 20, 2023
Docket Number: SC100132
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court making permanent a writ of mandamus ordering Attorney General Andrew Bailey to approve fiscal note summaries for eleven proposed initiative petitions Dr. Anna…
Date: July 20, 2023
Docket Number: SC99740
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Missouri Mining Commission awarding attorney fees and expenses in favor of Fowler Land Company and the Margaret Leist Revocable Trust (collectively, Landowners) after…
Date: July 20, 2023
Docket Number: SC99928
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court dismissing the underlying wrongful death lawsuit, holding that the allegations of the petition established that Crystal May was entitled to official immunity,…
Date: June 27, 2023
Docket Number: SC99658
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court dismissed Defendant's appeal of the circuit court's final judgment in this criminal case, holding that Defendant's appeal was untimely. After a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of financial…
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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