Judicial realignment underway in 33rd District

BENTON, Mo. -- A new judge for Scott County juveniles is another part of a larger reorganization going on in the 33rd Judicial Circuit Court.

Judge Rob Barker began hearing juvenile cases in Mississippi County in January upon taking office in the district as an associate circuit judge. Before retiring in December after 24 years on the bench, Barker's predecessor, Judge T. Lynn Brown, presided over juvenile cases in Mississippi County for all but his first term.

Judge Tony Heckemeyer heard juvenile cases for the entire circuit until 1994, when Brown began handling the Mississippi County juveniles and Judge David Dolan took over for those in Scott County, Dolan said.

Since taking the bench, Barker already has heard juvenile cases from Mississippi County but in August will begin handling those from Scott County as well.

This reassignment of duties "has been in the planning stage for awhile," Dolan said.

"The bigger story is: We are heading toward family court. As part of that, Judge Barker is going to be handling the juvenile cases for both counties."

It will be about 16 months before family court is established in the Circuit, he said, but once it is, "Juvenile court will be still there: It will be a subdivision of the Family Court."

Family court, Dolan said, will handle cases such as those involving marriage, child custody, adult abuse and neglect and related matters.

Dolan said he will take over processing the habeas corpus filings from the Southeast Correction Center in Charleston when Barker takes over Scott County juvenile cases "so it kind of evens up the workload," he said.

In addition to forming family court, the change will improve efficiency in the 33rd Circuit.

Because juvenile court hearings often must be held within specific time frames, "it's better to have one juvenile judge to schedule hearings," he said. "It's going to work out better for the court system and the public."

Pertinent address:

Benton, Mo.