HJR 11 -- Associate Circuit Judges

Co-Sponsors:  Holand, Ransdall

This proposed constitutional amendment abolishes the office of
associate circuit judge and elevates those judges to circuit
judges effective January 1, 2005.  Judicial circuits will be
limited to two counties unless the contiguous counties of the
circuit have a combined population of less than 15,000.

The amendment also establishes the Missouri Judicial Assignment
Commission, composed of a Supreme Court judge, an appellate court
judge, a circuit judge, a member of the House of Representatives,
a member of the Senate, and the State Courts Administrator, each
of whom will be appointed for a two-year term.  Beginning in 2006
and every two years thereafter, the commission will review and
study the assignment of judges and allocation of judicial staff
and resources across the state and make recommendations to the
General Assembly for the reduction, transfer, reallocation, or
other changes in the number and assignment of circuit and
associate circuit judges.  The recommendations will be deemed
enacted unless disapproved by the General Assembly before the
next February 1.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:12 am