In multiple-judge circuits, civil actions shall be set for trial in accordance with the rules of the court.
Rule 63.02.Trial Settings--Multiple-Judge Circuits.
Part I · Rule 63: Trial Settings · Last amended September 1, 1973 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 63.02 leaves the procedure for setting civil cases for trial in a multiple-judge circuit to that circuit’s own local court rules instead of a single statewide method.
Full Text of Rule 63.02
Amendment History
Adopted Jan. 19, 1973, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.
Official Comment
This is substantially the same as prior Rule 63.01. Compare: Rule 40 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 63.02 is brief by design: in a multiple-judge circuit, civil actions are set for trial according to the rules of that particular court, not a fixed statewide procedure. That stands in contrast to Rule 63.01, which spells out four specific trial-setting methods for circuits that have only a single judge managing the docket. A multi-judge circuit, with more judges and a more complex docket to coordinate, instead adopts its own local rules for how and when cases move onto the trial calendar.
A litigant in a multi-judge circuit who wants to know exactly how a case gets set for trial has to look past the statewide civil rules to that circuit’s local rules, since Rule 63.02 does not itself supply the mechanics the way Rule 63.01 does for single-judge circuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are trials scheduled in a multiple-judge circuit?
According to that circuit’s own local court rules, instead of a single statewide procedure.
Why is this different from Rule 63.01?
Rule 63.01 fixes specific trial-setting methods for circuits with only one judge. Rule 63.02 leaves multi-judge circuits to set their own local rules, given their larger and more complex dockets.
Where would I find the trial-setting procedure for my circuit?
In that circuit’s local court rules, since Rule 63.02 does not spell out the specific mechanics itself.
Does Rule 63.02 set any statewide deadlines for trial settings?
No, it leaves those details entirely to each circuit’s local rule.
Does a multi-judge circuit still have to give parties notice before setting a trial?
Rule 63.02 does not itself impose a notice requirement; whatever notice practice applies comes from that circuit’s own local rules, unlike Rule 63.01, which spells out specific notice periods for single-judge circuits.
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: trial setting multiple judge circuit missourilocal court rules trial setting missouricircuit court trial docket missourirule 63.02 missouri