Missouri Legal Overview: Columbia The Columbia metropolitan area in Missouri is defined by the Census Bureau as covering Boone and Howard counties. The circuit court in each county is the main trial court with general jurisdiction over everything from felony prosecutions to civil lawsuits and domestic violence or family law cases. The main cities in each county may additionally have a municipal court with limited jurisdiction over misdemeanors, city ordinance and traffic violations. Listed below are the main cities in the Columbia metro area.
Top Missouri cities for Legal Issues: Columbia
1. Boone County is served by the 13th Judicial Circuit. The Boone County Circuit Court is located in the county courthouse in Columbia. The city of Columbia is additionally served by a municipal court which is a division of the 13th Judicial Circuit. The Columbia Municipal Court has limited jurisdiction over local ordinance and traffic violations, misdemeanors and probation hearings. Howard County is served by the 14th Judicial Circuit Court located in Fayette. The city of Fayette also has a municipal court as a division of the Fayette County Circuit Court.
Trending Legal Topics: Trial court verdicts in both Boone and Howard counties may be appealed by filing an appeal with the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. This intermediate appellate court is located in Kansas City, but oral arguments can be heard in Columbia. As the court of last resort, the Missouri Supreme Court offers the chance for one more appeal. A federal case in either county will have to be filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Federal appeals against this court’s verdict may be filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. |