Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 541
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 541.020 (2026)

Jurisdiction of circuit courts

✓ current as of May 2026
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  541.020.  Jurisdiction of circuit courts. — Except as otherwise provided by law, the circuit courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases of felony, misdemeanor and infractions.  Except as otherwise provided by law, circuit judges may hear and determine originally all cases of felony, misdemeanor and infractions and may hear and determine upon a trial de novo cases of misdemeanor and infractions.

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(RSMo 1939 § 3891, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 3501; 1919 § 3846; 1909 § 5054

Effective 1-02-79

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1962–2001 · leading case: State v. Williams, 46 S.W.3d 35 (Mo. Ct. App. 2001).
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State v. Williams, 46 S.W.3d 35 (Mo. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 6× “Section 541.020 provides the jurisdiction of the circuit courts.”
Searcy v. State, 981 S.W.2d 597 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 541.020, RSMo.1994. A person accused of committing a criminal offense shall be prosecuted in the county in which the offense is committed.”
State v. Joos, 735 S.W.2d 776 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “Jurisdiction to try cases involving felonies, misdemeanors and infractions was vested in the circuit courts by § 541.020, RSMo 1978. The venue of the action was proper; the information was sufficient to advise the defendant of the charge against him.”
State v. Turner, 353 S.W.2d 602 (Mo. 1962). “Ordinarily, defects in the proceedings by which a criminal prosecution is commenced, whether by indictment or by information, must be taken advantage of by a pretrial motion in the circuit court which has original and exclusive jurisdiction of the trial and disposition of felony…”
City of Ava v. Yost, 375 S.W.2d 884 (Mo. Ct. App. 1964). · cites it 2× “, gives the circuit courts exclusive original jurisdiction in cases “not otherwise provided for” and concurrent and appellate jurisdiction “as provided by law.” Section 478.”
State v. Crouch, 353 S.W.2d 597 (Mo. 1962). “03, among other things, provides that the judge shall receive evidence on-, any issue of fact necessary to the decision of a motion to suppress and that the property seized shall be returned only if it is not of such a nature that its possession would constitute a criminal…”
State ex rel. Powers v. Walker, 381 S.W.2d 475 (Mo. Ct. App. 1964). · cites it 2× “Section 541.020 provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, the circuit courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of felony.”
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