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.
- 2024 (24)
- 2023 (56)
- 2022 (47)
- 2021 (49)
- 2020 (58)
- 2019 (75)
- 2018 (63)
- 2017 (82)
- 2016 (69)
- 2015 (78)
- 2014 (78)
- 2013 (75)
- 2012 (83)
- 2011 (70)
- 2010 (76)
- 2009 (79)
- 2008 (15)
- 2007 (99)
- 2006 (74)
- 2005 (70)
- 2004 (75)
- 2003 (88)
- 2002 (82)
- 2001 (73)
- 2000 (58)
- 1999 (61)
- 1998 (68)
- 1997 (89)
- 1996 (66)
- 1995 (65)
- 1994 (57)
- 1993 (95)
- 1992 (84)
- 1991 (79)
- 1990 (87)
- 1989 (77)
- 1988 (70)
- 1987 (88)
- 1986 (84)
- 1985 (85)
- 1984 (81)
- 1983 (113)
- 1982 (129)
- 1981 (85)
- 1980 (100)
- 1979 (86)
- 1978 (76)
- 1977 (62)
- 1976 (71)
- 1975 (75)
- 1974 (143)
- 1973 (181)
- 1972 (223)
- 1971 (199)
- 1970 (247)
- 1969 (205)
- 1968 (232)
- 1967 (228)
- 1966 (189)
- 1965 (189)
- 1964 (196)
- 1963 (194)
- 1962 (175)
- 1961 (161)
- 1960 (195)
- 1959 (231)
- 1958 (198)
- 1957 (206)
- 1956 (200)
- 1955 (194)
- 1954 (180)
- 1953 (174)
- 1952 (197)
- 1951 (172)
- 1950 (179)
- 1891 (1)
Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Missouri
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100170
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Robert Anthony Woolery, who was convicted of two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. In 2021, the Sedalia police department identified Woolery as a subject of interest in their investigation…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100188
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Troy Jackson-Bey, who was convicted of five counts, including first-degree murder and first-degree assault, following an altercation at a residence. The altercation began when Jackson-Bey and…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100193
Justia Opinion Summary: David Steele filed a lawsuit against his employer, Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI), alleging that the company had violated § 287.780 by retaliating and discriminating against him for filing a workers' compensation claim.…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100212
Justia Opinion Summary: Ashley Colville was charged with second-degree involuntary manslaughter following a motor vehicle accident in St. Louis, Missouri, in which Rodney Larue was fatally injured. The indictment alleged that Colville caused…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100238
Justia Opinion Summary: In September 2016, Sanford Sachtleben and Luciann Hruza (the Buyers) purchased a property in Missouri from Perry and Joanie Sullivan (the Sellers). Prior to the sale, the city of New Melle had sued the Sellers over a…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100247
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Lorandis Phillips, who was convicted of first-degree robbery and second-degree assault. The incident occurred on December 14, 2018, when Phillips and three other men attacked a man in a shed behind…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100265
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around James Logan, who was convicted of three misdemeanor offenses: first-degree trespass, fourth-degree assault, and peace disturbance. These offenses occurred at a Mexican restaurant in Columbia,…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100303
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Tiffany Mills, who was convicted for third-degree assault and armed criminal action. Mills had a confrontation with a woman (the victim) who was friends with her boyfriend. The confrontation escalated…
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC100325
Date: April 30, 2024
Docket Number: SC99931
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Quinton Lucas, a registered voter, challenged the approval of Amendment No. 4 in the November 2022 general election. The amendment authorized laws that increased minimum funding for a police force…
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…
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.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
