Court of Appeals to Convene in Kirksville April 10

The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, will convene court at Truman at 9 a.m. April 10 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.

Although the court convenes regularly at its courthouse in downtown Kansas City, it has convened sessions in many of the 45 counties in its jurisdiction. The court hears oral arguments outside of Kansas City to give individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see and to familiarize those attending with the court’s role in the judicial system. After the oral arguments, the judges will take time to discuss the court system, explain the proceedings and take questions from the audience.

A panel consisting of Judge Cindy Martin, Judge Douglas Thomson and Senior Judge Joseph M. Ellis, sitting as a special judge, will hear oral arguments in four cases on the docket. Martin was appointed to the court in 2009 and had previously practiced law for more than 25 years in Kansas City and Lee’s Summit. Thomson joined the Western District in 2020. Prior to that, he served as an associate circuit judge in Nodaway County for more than five years.

Ellis was appointed to the Western District in August 1993 and retired in March 2016. Before his appointment to the judiciary, he practiced law in Macon and also served as the municipal judge for Macon. Although retired, Ellis continues to serve as a senior judge and was appointed to sit with this panel by the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to section 476.681, RSMo.

This event is open to the public, and students may come and go as their schedule permits. Enter and exit quietly if the court session is under way.