Gov. Jay Nixon called for lawmakers to impose stricter penalties on driving-while-intoxicated offenders during a statewide tour on Wednesday, with stops in Hannibal, St. Louis County and Cape Girardeau County.

Tagged with: Bryan Stevenson DWI Gov. Jay Nixon Rachel Bringer

The House Judiciary chairman expects the House next year won’t give floor time to an amendment to change the Nonpartisan Court Plan. Rep. Bryan Stevenson expects the fight to shift instead to an initiative petition drive. For the past two ...

Tagged with: Bryan Stevenson John Johnston Jolie Justus Nonpartisan Court Plan Tim Flook

The House passed a wide-ranging judiciary bill on Wednesday that includes a controversial plan to convert drug court commissioners into associate circuit judges. But the bill’s sponsor says that provision will likely be taken out of the bill, as several ...

Tagged with: associate circuit judges Bryan Stevenson drug court commissioners Jeff Smith Jolie Justus judiciary bill Matt Bartle

The House has passed a wide-ranging judiciary bill that includes a controversial plan to convert drug court commissioners into associate circuit judges. But the bill's sponsor says that provision will likely be taken out of the bill, as several senators have warned the section would sink the entire legislative package. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bryan Stevenson's bill is essentially a collection of smaller bills that popped up throughout the year and have been attached to an "omnibus" - or overarching - bill.

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A proposal moving forward in the Legislature would get rid of probate and drug court commissioners statewide starting next year and make those positions associate circuit judges. In the process, St. Louis City's circuit court would lose two drug court positions, and the court serving Kansas City would gain an associate judge. Those are just some of the judge swaps being considered under the bill. The overall legislation is aimed at rewriting the state's laws on child custody, but House Judiciary Chairman Bryan Stevenson tacked the judicial shuffling onto the bill as well.

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State Rep. Bryan Stevenson might have removed the biggest obstacle in the way of legislation meant to relieve the caseload crunch for the state's public defender system: himself. Stevenson, a Webb City Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, made the somewhat unusual move of asking for Sen. Jack Goodman's legislation to be sent away from his committee. The legislation was re-directed to the House General Laws Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Tim Jones, R-Eureka (pictured left).

Tagged with: Bryan Stevenson Cathy Kelly House Judiciary Committee Jack Goodman Ron Richard Tim Jones