Part II · Rule 82: Terms and Duties of Chief Justice and Judges of This Court and the Court of Appeals—Designation of Court of Appeals and Districts Thereof—Duties and Other Matters Relating to the State Courts Administrator and Other Court Personnel · Last amended July 1, 1998 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 82.03 creates the office of state courts administrator under the Supreme Court's supervision, lists its administrative duties over court dockets, budgets, and judicial education, and bars the administrator and staff from practicing law or engaging in political activity.
(a)Duties. Under the authority and supervision of this Court, the state courts administrator shall have the following duties:
(1)Promulgate and administer the administrative methods and systems adopted by this Court for use in the office of the clerks of the various state and municipal courts.
(2)Make recommendations from time to time concerning the administrative methods and systems used in the office of the clerks of the various state and municipal courts.
(3)Assemble information concerning the current state of dockets, determine where assistance is needed and recommend assignment of judges.
(4)Collect and publish reports of business transacted by the courts, the state of dockets and court facilities.
(5)Prepare and submit budget estimates of the state appropriations necessary for the maintenance and operation of the judicial system.
(6)Administer the payment of state monies appropriated for the maintenance and operation of the judicial system.
(7)Develop and administer programs of judicial education.
(8)Process requests for transfer of judges.
(9)Perform duties required under administrative rule of the Court.
(10)Repealed by order dated Dec. 19, 1997, effective July 1, 1998.
(b)Prohibition Against Practice of Law. The state courts administrator and employees of the office shall not engage in the practice of law or do any law business.
(c)Prohibition Against Political Activity. The state courts administrator and employees of the office shall not directly or indirectly make any contributions to or hold any office in a political party or organization or take part in any political campaign, nor shall any employee be hired or discharged on a political or party basis.
(d)Oath. Before assuming the duties of the office, the state courts administrator shall take and subscribe to an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Missouri, and faithfully to demean himself or herself while in the office, and that the person will not disclose or reveal any fact or information obtained relating to any case, matter, opinion or proceeding pending in court before the same has been made public by this Court.
Rule 82.03 sets up the state courts administrator's office and puts it under the authority and supervision of the Supreme Court. The administrator's duties span the practical running of the judicial system: promulgating and administering the administrative methods used in clerks' offices statewide, recommending improvements to those methods, tracking the state of court dockets and recommending where judges need to be assigned, collecting and publishing reports on court business and facilities, preparing and submitting budget estimates, administering appropriated funds for the judicial system, developing judicial education programs, processing requests to transfer judges, and carrying out whatever other duties the Court's administrative rules assign.
The rule also fences off the office from two things. The administrator and the office's employees cannot practice law or do any law business. And they cannot make political contributions, hold office in a political party or organization, take part in a political campaign, or be hired or fired on a political or party basis.
Before taking office, the administrator has to take an oath to support the federal and state constitutions, to faithfully carry out the duties of the office, and not to disclose or reveal any fact or information about a pending case, matter, opinion, or proceeding before the Court has made it public.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Missouri's state courts administrator do?
Runs the administrative side of the judicial system: methods for clerks' offices, docket tracking, budget estimates, judicial education, and judge transfer requests, among other duties.
Who supervises the state courts administrator?
The Supreme Court has authority and supervision over the office.
Can the state courts administrator practice law?
No. The administrator and the office's employees are barred from practicing law or doing any law business.
Are there political activity restrictions on court administrative staff?
Yes. They cannot make political contributions, hold party office, campaign, or be hired or fired on a political basis.
What oath must the administrator take?
An oath to support the federal and state constitutions, faithfully perform the office's duties, and keep pending case information confidential until the Court makes it public.
Does the administrator have a role in judge assignments?
Yes. The administrator assembles docket information, determines where assistance is needed, and recommends assignment of judges.
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:state courts administrator missouricourt administration dutiesjudicial education programs missouriadministrator oath of office