Supreme Court of Missouri

06/15/2026

Missouri Court's Civic Education is active in communities all across our state.

Students learn about courts from real judges from our Supreme Court, Appellate Courts, and Circuit Courts.

Students learn by asking questions, testing arguments and seeing how rules create structure.

📍Your Missouri Courts bring civics off the page and into practice. Learn more or schedule a visit from a judge today: DiscoverMOCourts.org

📸: Supreme Court of Missouri Judge Mary Russell, Former Chief Justice 2013-2015; 2023-2025, visiting a Missouri classroom.

06/14/2026

The Supreme Court of Missouri releases opinions on designated hand down dates throughout the year - the moment when decisions become available in the cases the Court has reviewed.

The time between oral arguments and opinion release reflects careful deliberation. Judges review briefs, research precedent, draft opinions, and refine their legal reasoning, supported by law clerks, court staff, and research attorneys who help ensure every decision is thorough and well-reasoned.

Precedent demands meticulous work, and Missouri's Supreme Court team is dedicated to supporting and upholding the constitution of Missouri and the United States of America.

View the hand down schedule and decisions at https://bit.ly/3WMgqz3.

Supreme Court

06/12/2026

Moot Court teaches students to present their own case while tracking the facts, rules and arguments on both sides.

Fair decisions are based on the law, and Moot Court helps students learn how to present their case effectively in often complex situations.

06/11/2026

A strong courtroom presentation starts with preparation.

Reading the facts.
Understanding the rules.
Organizing the argument.
Staying calm when a question changes the path.

Mock trial helps students build confidence and represent Missourians well.

06/10/2026

Moot Court helps students practice skills they will need in court.

They learn how to build an argument.
How to listen carefully.
How to respond under pressure.
How to consider more than one side of an issue.

The Supreme Court of Missouri hosts mock trial to help Missouri law students learn these skills and prepare for their law career.

06/09/2026

"This idea of having locally available judges to decide local disputes stems from centuries-old English law. In fact, our founders listed among other grievances “transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretend offenses” as a justification for declaring independence 250 years ago." read the full commentary ... https://bit.ly/4egx1Df

Justice Matters | Reflections of Missouri Chief Justice W. Brent Powell

06/05/2026

Students may not be in a courtroom, but courts still affect the communities where they live, learn and grow.

Courts help apply the law, protect legal rights and resolve disputes through a public process.

Understanding that process is part of understanding citizenship.

📸: Supreme Court of Missouri Chief Justice W. Brent Powell and Missouri students

06/05/2026

In this episode of Missouri Law Matters, Judge Mc Pherson shares his journey from a small college to law school, a clerkship with the Supreme Court of Missouri, nearly 30 years in private practice and now service on the bench.

He also talks about what it meant to become the first person in his family to graduate from college and law school, and why civic education matters for students, families and communities across Missouri.

His story is a reminder that there is no single path to a legal career. Curiosity, hard work and a commitment to public service can open doors.

🎧️ Listen to the full episode of Missouri Law Matters: https://youtu.be/-D-dFZQIBL0

How does someone become a judge in Missouri? What role does civic e...

06/04/2026

Missouri’s court system has different levels, and each one serves a different role.

Circuit courts are where most cases begin.

The Court of Appeals reviews many decisions from circuit courts.

The Supreme Court of Missouri is the state’s highest court.

Together, these courts help cases move through a process guided by law, procedure and the facts presented in each case.