Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, to Sit at Westminster

For the fifth consecutive year, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District will convene court at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, Chief Judge James Welsh announced today.  The session will take place on Thursday, November 14, 2013 in the Hermann Lounge at the Hunter Activities Center on campus.   A three-judge panel consisting of Western District judges Mark D. Pfeiffer, Joseph Ellis and Victor Howard will hear oral arguments in three cases beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Welsh explained that the cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts.  The judges will hear attorneys argue whether the trials had errors, which should cause them to be retried, or the trial court’s judgment reversed, he said.  The judges will read written arguments before the court session, he added, and may interrupt the attorneys’ arguments with questions.

The three judges will recess sometime in between arguments to step down and discuss the court system and generally explain proceedings, Welsh said.

Pfeiffer, a resident of Columbia, will preside over the proceedings at Westminster. .  He was appointed to the Western District in 2009.  Before assuming the bench, he practiced law first in Springfield and then in Columbia.  Ellis is the senior judge in terms of years of service, having been appointed to the Court in 1993.  Before joining the appellate bench, he practiced law in Macon.  He is a former chief judge of the Western District.  Howard joined the Western District in 1996.  Immediately prior to his appointment, he served as a trial judge in Clay County.   Like Ellis, he is a former chief judge of the Western District.

Although the Court convenes regularly in Kansas City, it regularly sits twice a year in Fulton.  In the spring, it convenes at William Woods University. During the past 22 years, the Court has also held sessions in Chillicothe, Clinton, Columbia, Gallatin, Huntsville, Independence, Jefferson City, Keytesville, Kirksville, Lexington, Liberty, Linneus, Macon, Marshall, Maryville, Milan, Nevada, Platte City, Richmond, St. Joseph, Savannah, Trenton, Tuscumbia and Warrensburg.  Its jurisdiction is appeals from trial courts in 45 counties, which include all of northwest Missouri, and most of central Missouri.

“It is important for the Court to convene oral arguments outside of Kansas City,” Pfeiffer said.  “This gives individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see.  We hope those attending will gain a better understanding of the Court’s function.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Terence G. Lord, Clerk of Court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District
(816) 889-3600   Fax (816) 889-3668  e-mail [email protected]