St. Louis Circuit Court

The 22nd Circuit is dismissing most staff at noon Thursday, May 7, 2026, in observance of Harry S. Truman Day. Essential staff remain on duty until the close of business. The court is closed Friday, May 8, 2026, for the state holiday.

It's always fun to host students for courthouse tours. Yesterday, a group of Visitation Academy sophomores spent part of the afternoon with Judge Elizabeth Byrne Hogan, (a Viz alum!) touring the Circuit Attorney's Office's warrant office and observing a snippet of the detention docket in Judge Brooke Hurst's courtroom. These students make up a fellowship program and have shown interest in doing independent research and the law. Thanks to longtime Visitation Academy teachers Nick McKeever and Christopher Saxton for bringing their students along to see court in progress. Also thank you to Sean O'Hagan and Amber Raub of the Circuit Attorney's Office for hosting students and helping out with the tour!

The 22nd Circuit will dismiss staff at 3 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2026, because of severe weather predicted across the St. Louis region. The court is not closed and will continue running with essential staff until the regular close of business. Updates will be posted to this page as well as https://stlcitycircuitcourt.com and via our inclement weather hotline at 314-622-4427.

Happiest day at the courthouse when people are tying the knot! Judge Clinton Wright is conducting weddings today and it has become his tradition to play Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” from his phone after each couple says "I do!"

More than 40 third graders from the Community School packed Circuit Judge Theresa Counts Burke's courtroom on Friday, April 24, 2026, to learn how the courts work in St. Louis. Their first stop was the top floor of the Clyde S. Cahill Courts building to soak in views of downtown St. Louis before heading into Judge Burke's courtroom to experience the justice system up close. Judge Burke and the 22nd Circuit have hosted the school annually for more than a decade. Students filled the jury box, counsel tables, the court clerk and reporter's seats and even Judge Burke's chair. They asked excellent questions about who does what in a courtroom setting and about the most common cases conducted in Judge Burke's division. She explained that their visit was refreshing change of pace after she presided over a difficult, serious criminal trial the previous four days. Each student left with a souvenir from Judge Burke: a rubber duckie reading a book to help remind them of the importance of reading throughout life. "Reading is one of the best things in the world," she said.

Thanks to the Community School for joining us today. If your school would like to visit the 22nd Circuit, contact Chief Communications Officer Joel Currier at [email protected].

Please join the 22nd Circuit in congratulating and welcoming Karma Johnson as the newest associate circuit judge! Judge Johnson was officially sworn-in Friday. She was joined by her father, her son and dozens of colleagues in the St. Louis legal community. "I'm thankful for each and every one of you," Judge Johnson told the courtroom. "Every phone call that was made. Every text message that was sent. Every letter that was written. Every encouraging word that was spoken. Every prayer that was uttered or whispered. I'm grateful for each of you." Full story link in the comments.

Congratulations to St. Louis Judge Elizabeth Byrne Hogan! Tonight, she'll be recognized as one of Missouri Lawyers Media's 2026 Women's Justice Awards honorees! https://tinyurl.com/5n7k88wc

Thanks for visiting our courthouses, North Kirkwood Middle School! Mr. Darion Williams' class dropped by the Circuit Attorney's Office's warrant office and Judge Brooke Hurst's courtroom before having an excellent visit at the Law Library Association of St. Louis. We love having students visit us to learn about St. Louis history and the courts.

For more information about this alert, visit the Missouri Courts website at https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=233093.

You’re always welcome in our courtrooms! Thank you for having your competition at the 22nd Circuit!