The Missouri Court of Appeals, districts thereof, and trial courts may make rules governing the administration of judicial business if the rules are not inconsistent with the rules of this Court, the Constitution or statutory law in force. Upon their promulgation, copies of any such rules shall be furnished to the Clerk of this Court. The clerk of each court shall from time to time compile all of the current rules and maintain copies thereof for distribution among members of the bar and litigants.
Rule 50.01.Rules of Court of Appeal and Trial Courts--Copy to Clerk of This Court--Distribution.
Part I · Rule 50: Rules of Missouri Court of Appeals and Trial Courts · Last amended September 1, 1972 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule lets the Missouri Court of Appeals and trial courts adopt their own administrative rules, so long as those rules do not conflict with the Supreme Court, the Constitution, or statutory law.
Full Text of Rule 50.01
Amendment History
Adopted Feb. 1, 1972, eff. Sept. 1, 1972.
Official Comment
The first paragraph is substantially the same as prior Rule 50.01. The source of the second paragraph is the last two sentences of prior Rule 41.05. Compare: Rule 83 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 50.01 recognizes that individual courts need some room to manage their own administrative affairs. The Missouri Court of Appeals, its districts, and trial courts may adopt rules governing the administration of judicial business, as long as those rules do not conflict with the rules of the Supreme Court, the Missouri Constitution, or statutory law currently in force.
Once a court promulgates such a rule, it must furnish a copy to the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The rule also places an ongoing duty on each court’s own clerk: to compile all of that court’s current local rules from time to time and keep copies available for distribution to members of the bar and to litigants, so that anyone appearing in that court can find out what local rules apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a trial court adopt its own local rules of procedure?
Yes, as long as those rules govern the administration of judicial business and do not conflict with the Missouri Supreme Court’s rules, the Constitution, or statutory law in force.
What has to happen after a court adopts a local administrative rule?
A copy has to be furnished to the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
How can a lawyer or litigant find out what local rules a particular court has adopted?
Each court’s clerk compiles its current rules and maintains copies for distribution to members of the bar and to litigants.
Does this rule apply to the Court of Appeals as well as trial courts?
Yes. It covers the Missouri Court of Appeals and its districts, along with trial courts.
What happens if a local rule conflicts with a Supreme Court rule or a statute?
The rule only authorizes local rules that are not inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s rules, the Constitution, or statutory law in force, so a conflicting local rule would fall outside that authorization.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: local court rules missouricourt of appeals administrative rulestrial court local rulescopy of rules to supreme court clerkfinding local court rules