Courts in Missouri
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The Courts in Missouri consist of the state court system and four federal courts.
Appellate Courts
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the State. [1] The court has exclusive jurisdiction over five types of cases: the validity of a United States statute or treaty; the validity of a Missouri statute or constitutional provision; the state's revenue laws; challenges to a statewide elected official's right to hold office; and imposition of the death penalty.
The Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court and it is divided into Eastern, Western and Southern districts.
Trial Courts
The Circuit Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. There are 115 courts: one in every county and one in St. Louis City. These courts are organized into 45 Judicial Circuits.[2]
The Municipal Courts have original jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations. [3]
Courts of limited jurisdiction
The Missouri Specialized Court Divisions focus on more personalized treatment and problem-solving for offenders in order to change their behavior. The Juvenile and Family Courts are divisions of the Circuit Courts. There are also Mental Health Courts, Teen Courts, Truancy Courts and Drug Courts.[4]
Federal courts
There are four federal courts in Missouri:
- Eastern District of Missouri
- Western District of Missouri
- United States bankruptcy court, Eastern District of Missouri
- United States bankruptcy court, Western District of Missouri[5]
Appeals from these courts are heard in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Restorative justice
Former Justice William Ray Price in a interview with St. Louis Public Radio on September 4, 2012
| “ | When we put people in jail it costs us an extraordinary amount of money and they generally don’t get better just for being in jail. A better alternative is to save money not putting them in jail and give them the type of rehabilitation programs, drug, and alcohol treatment they need to return as productive members of society. Drug courts have shown that at a far lower cost we can have a far better result; that is less people that get in trouble again.[6] | ” |
External links
References
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