Section 8.8 Jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts

• Library: Criminal Practice 2012 Supp

1. (§8.8) Jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts

Missouri is divided into 45 circuits, each being composed of one county, or two or more contiguous counties, and each having at least one circuit judge and one associate circuit judge. Mo. Const. art. V, §§ 15, 16; §§ 478.073–478.186, RSMo 2000. One circuit (No. 22) consists solely of the City of St. Louis. Section 478.130, RSMo 2000.

The circuit courts have original jurisdiction over all cases and matters, civil and criminal. Mo. Const. art. V, § 14; § 478.070, RSMo 2000. “Except as otherwise provided by law, the circuit courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases of felony, misdemeanor and infractions.” Section 541.020, RSMo 2000.

The subject matter jurisdiction of a circuit court and the sufficiency of the information or indictment are distinct concepts. State v. Parkhurst, 845 S.W.2d 31 (Mo. banc 1992). Insufficiency of the information does not deprive the trial court of jurisdiction. Wright-El v. State, 890 S.W.2d 664 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994). The...