Fourth Circuit receives award for timely case processing
SUBMITTED BY THE 4TH CIRCUIT
Presiding Judge of the 4th Circuit, Corey Herron, receives the O’Toole Award from Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court Brent Powell.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Supreme Court of Missouri last month recognized the 4th Judicial Circuit with the Daniel J. O’Toole Award for significant success in managing and processing cases.
Named for the late judge’s service as the first chair of the state judiciary’s time standards monitoring committee, the annual award recognizes circuit courts’ excellence in service and delivering timely justice to the public. A circuit can earn the award by disposing of a designated percentage of cases in at least five of 10 case categories within a specified time frame and being within at least 5 percent of achieving the remaining time standards. The time standards have been in effect since 1997.
“These awards recognize the delicate balance between resolving cases promptly and ensuring all parties have a full opportunity to prepare and be heard,” Chief Justice W. Brent Powell said in a news release. “Every case in a Missouri court can have a profound impact on the people involved, and no matter how big or small the case might be, they are anxious for a prompt resolution to their legal dispute. It requires hard work among our dedicated judges and court staff, working with litigants and lawyers, to bring cases to a timely conclusion. This is especially critical in cases involving child abuse or neglect. Children who have been removed from their homes are understandably confused, frightened, and need stability. They rely on our courts to find them a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.”
To qualify for this year’s award, the 4th Circuit met seven of the time standards, was within 1 percent of meeting two other standards and was within 4 percent of meeting the remaining standard. It is the 13th time the 4th Circuit has qualified for the O’Toole Award, the news release stated. Four other circuits qualified for fiscal year 2025. The 4th Circuit encompasses Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties.
The awards were announced during the semiannual meeting of the state’s presiding judges late last month in Lake Ozark.
