Chief Justice Brent Powell on Missouri Courts, Access to Justice, and Criminal Reform

How are judges selected in Missouri, and what does it mean to vote on whether a judge should be retained? Judge Matt Hamner talks with Missouri Bar President Athena Dickson about the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, how judicial nominating commissions and the governor take part in selecting judges and the role Missouri voters play through judicial retention elections.

How does the Missouri court system work, and what does the Missouri Court of Appeals actually do? In this episode of Missouri Law Matters, Judge Matt Hamner talks with Chief Judge John P. Torbitzky of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, about appellate courts in Missouri, how judges review trial court decisions and why the Eastern District’s 150th anniversary matters. The conversation also covers Missouri’s court structure, civic education, Case.net, public access to court information, court technology and how Missouri courts are thinking about artificial intelligence. Chief Judge Torbitzky also shares his path to the law, from earning an English degree to serving as a judicial law clerk, working in private practice and becoming an appellate judge. In this episode: - What the Missouri Court of Appeals does- How appellate courts are different from trial courts- How Missouri judges review trial court decisions- The history of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District- Why the Eastern District is marking 150 years of serviceHow Case.net helps the public access Missouri court information- Why civic education matters for public trust in courts- How AI and court technology may affect the judiciary Missouri Law Matters is a podcast from the Supreme Court of Missouri featuring conversations about Missouri courts, judges, court services and the work being done to support public access to justice. Subscribe for more great conversations about the Missouri judiciary and how the court system works. #MissouriCourts #MissouriCourtSystem #MissouriJudiciary #MissouriCourtOfAppeals #MissouriLawMatters #CaseNet #CourtTechnology #AIinCourts #CivicEducation

How does someone become a judge in Missouri? What role does civic education play in helping the public understand the courts? And what can students learn from a judge who did not start with every advantage? In this episode of Missouri Law Matters, Judge Matt Hamner chats with Judge Jeffrey McPherson about his path from a small college to the Supreme Court of Missouri, private practice and the bench. Judge McPherson shares what it was like to become the first person in his family to graduate from college and law school. He also reflects on attending a high school with limited opportunities, working hard in the classroom and building a legal career that included clerking for the Supreme Court of Missouri and nearly 30 years in private practice before becoming a judge. The conversation also explores the importance of civic education, why courts matter in everyday life and how students can begin to see a place for themselves in the legal system. This episode is a reminder that there is no single path to a legal career. Hard work, curiosity and public service can open doors, even when the starting point looks different than expected. Listen to Missouri Law Matters for conversations about Missouri courts, civic education, the legal profession and the people who help make the justice system work.

n this episode of Missouri Law Matters, Judge Matt Hamner talks with Senior Judge Gary Lynch about public service, Missouri courts and how technology helps support public access to the justice system.

What does it take to become a judge in Missouri? In this episode of Missouri Law Matters, Judge Jalilah Otto of the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County shares her path to the bench, the work judges do each day, and how Missouri’s nonpartisan court plan shapes judicial selection in Kansas City and beyond. Judge Otto talks about growing up in Kansas City, discovering the law almost by accident, and building a career as a prosecutor at the state and federal levels before becoming an associate circuit judge, then a circuit judge. She also explains how Missouri circuit courts work, why civic education matters, and what people should know before stepping into a courtroom. This conversation is designed for Missourians searching for:• how to become a judge in Missouri• Missouri nonpartisan court plan• Missouri circuit courts explained• Jackson County Court and Kansas City legal system• what judges do in Missouri courts• legal and judicial career paths About Missouri Law MattersMissouri Law Matters is a public education initiative of the Supreme Court of Missouri that helps increase access and understanding of how our courts work. Follow Missouri Courts on Instagram and Facebook @MOCourts and @SupremeCourtMO.