MO HB1636

Municipalities with populations under 400,000 may elect to have municipal ordinance violations heard by an associate circuit judge instead of a municipal judge.

A municipality that elects to use an associate circuit judge may later switch to having a municipal judge hear all violations of its ordinances.

Municipalities may elect to have only violations involving defendants with special needs due to mental illness heard by an associate circuit court if the court has specialized dockets (such as mental health court or DWI court) and accepts the election.

If a municipality elects to use an associate circuit judge, the judge must begin hearing cases six months after notification to the presiding judge, unless the presiding judge consents to an earlier date.

Municipalities under 400,000 in population located in counties with a county municipal court may contract with the county to have all municipal ordinance violations heard in the county municipal court.