NCJ Number
54993
Date Published
1977
Length
90 pages
Annotation
MISSOURI'S COURT SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED IN ONE OF A SERIES OF PROFILES PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS TO HELP STATES IMPLEMENT THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (ABA) COURT ORGANIZATION STANDARDS.
Abstract
THE REPORT IS BASED ON A REVIEW OF THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION, STATUTES, COURT RULES, ANNUAL COURT REPORTS, ADMINISTRATIVE MANUALS, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS. AN OVERVIEW OUTLINES INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING: COURT STRUCTURE (APPELLATE AND TRIAL COURTS); JUDGES (QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, TERM OF OFFICE, DISCIPLINE, REMOVAL, COMPENSATION, RETIREMENT AGE, CONTINUING EDUCATION, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS); ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY (STATE ADMINISTRATION, COURT ADMINISTRATION, POLICYMAKING AND RULEMAKING AUTHORITY, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL); FINANCE AND BUDGET (FUNDING, FINES AND FEES, BUDGET PROCEDURES); AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (RECORDKEEPING, STATISTICS, DATA PROCESSING). THE EXTENT TO WHICH EACH ASPECT OF MISSOURI'S COURT SYSTEM COMPLIES WITH ABA STANDARDS IS NOTED. CHARTS SUMMARIZE ORGANIZATION AND LINE OF AUTHORITY WITHIN THE SYSTEM, DEPICTING ROUTES OF APPEAL, ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, JURISDICTIONS, AND FUNDING SOURCES. ELEVEN SEPARATE PROFILES PRESENT DETAILED INFORMATION ON EACH ASPECT OF THE COURT SYSTEM COVERED IN THE OVERVIEW. KEYED TO THE PROFILES IS A CHART INDICATING THE DEGREE OF SIMILARITY BETWEEN EACH ABA STANDARD AND THE MISSOURI COURT SYSTEM. SOURCE DOCUMENTS ARE LISTED. (LKM)