Bill > HB2968

This bill modifies provisions related to judgeships in various judicial circuits across Missouri, primarily by increasing the number of judges in certain circuits and establishing new associate circuit judge positions. Specifically, it adds a fifth circuit judge to the seventh judicial circuit starting in fiscal year 2028, and an additional associate circuit judgeship in the twenty-third judicial circuit, also beginning in fiscal year 2028, with the governor appointing the initial judge until an election in 2028. The eleventh judicial circuit will gain a seventh circuit judge starting January 1, 2029, and two additional associate circuit judge positions beginning fiscal year 2028. The twentieth judicial circuit will gain an associate circuit judgeship in Franklin County starting fiscal year 2028, and the twenty-fifth judicial circuit will increase to three circuit judges, including one created in fiscal year 2026 and a new position for division three to be elected in 2028. Additionally, the twenty-sixth judicial circuit will gain an associate circuit judgeship in Miller County starting fiscal year 2028. The bill also makes technical changes to the number of circuit judges in the fifth, sixteenth, seventeenth, twenty-second, twenty-ninth, forty-second, forty-third, and forty-fourth judicial circuits, and updates provisions regarding family court commissioners in the seventh, eleventh, thirteenth, and thirty-first judicial circuits.