Supreme Court Of Missouri Recognizes 1st Judicial Circuit For Timely Processing Cases Impacting Children
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Supreme Court of Missouri has recognized the 1st Judicial Circuit – encompassing Clark, Schuyler, and Scotland counties – for significant success in managing and processing its various cases during fiscal 2025. The circuit received the Permanency Award during a semiannual meeting of the state’s presiding judges, held in late February in Lake Ozark.
“These awards recognize the delicate balance between resolving cases promptly and ensuring all parties have a full opportunity to prepare and be heard.,” Chief Justice W. Brent Powell said. “Every case in a Missouri court can have a profound impact on the people involved, and no matter how big or small the case might be, they are anxious for a prompt resolution to their legal dispute. It requires hard work among our dedicated judges and court staff, working with litigants and lawyers, to bring cases to a timely conclusion. This is especially critical in cases involving child abuse or neglect. Children who have been removed from their homes are understandably confused, frightened, and need stability. They rely on our courts to find them a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.”
The circuit’s presiding judge, Judge Lindsay G. Gravett, said, “It is extremely important for the stability of the children who come before the juvenile division that their cases are being heard timely. This cannot be accomplished without the leadership, hard work and dedication of the Juvenile Court Judge (Honorable Rick R. Roberts, Honorable Holly Conger-Koenig and myself), the Attorney for the Juvenile Office, Juvenile Officers, Children’s Division, parent attorneys, guardian ad litems, the entire Court Staff, parents and their supports and placement providers. These individuals ensure that the children have stability, which is essential during the juvenile court process and to maintain the permanency goal of reunification of these children with their parent(s).”
Now in its 20th year, the Permanency Award recognizes the leadership and hard work of judges, juvenile officers, clerks, children’s division workers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and other support staff to protect children who have been abused or neglected. The time standards, established in 2006, apply to certain types of hearings in cases in which children are removed from their homes. They are intended to help provide stability for the children by ensuring they are reunited with their families or placed in another permanent home as soon as possible.
In fiscal 2025, there were nearly 40,300 mandatory hearings. Collectively, the state’s courts completed 95 percent of these critical abuse and neglect hearings on time. Impressively, all 14 circuits receiving this year’s Permanency Award completed 100 percent of their hearings on time. This is the 18th consecutive year the 1st circuit has earned the Permanency Award.
