Proceedings in mandamus shall be by a civil action in which the person seeking relief is relator and the person against whom such relief is sought is respondent. If appropriate, there may be multiple relators or multiple respondents.
Rule 94.02.Forms of Action--Parties.
Part III · Rule 94: Mandamus · Last amended January 1, 1983 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 94.02 explains that a mandamus case is a civil action brought by a relator against a respondent, the party being asked to act, and permits more than one relator or respondent when the case calls for it.
Full Text of Rule 94.02
Amendment History
Adopted June 5, 1980, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Amended Sept. 10, 1982, eff. Jan. 1, 1983.
Official Comment
This is new.
Plain-English Summary
Mandamus keeps the basic shape of a civil action but uses its own vocabulary for the parties. Rule 94.02 calls the person seeking relief the relator and the person or body against whom relief is sought the respondent, in place of the plaintiff and defendant labels used elsewhere in civil practice.
The rule also recognizes that mandamus cases do not always involve just one person on each side. Where appropriate, a petition can name multiple relators or multiple respondents, such as several people affected by the same nondiscretionary duty or more than one official who shares responsibility for performing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the "relator" in a mandamus case?
The relator is the person seeking relief, the equivalent of a plaintiff in an ordinary civil action.
Who is the "respondent"?
The respondent is the person or body against whom the relator seeks relief, the equivalent of a defendant.
Can more than one person be a relator in the same mandamus case?
Yes. Rule 94.02 allows multiple relators, or multiple respondents, where appropriate.
Is a mandamus action still a civil action even though the parties have different names?
Yes. Rule 94.02 describes mandamus proceedings as a civil action; only the party labels differ from ordinary practice.
Why does mandamus use different party names than an ordinary lawsuit?
The relator and respondent terminology reflects mandamus's traditional character as a proceeding brought in the state's name to compel performance of a duty, distinct from an ordinary claim between private parties.
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: mandamus relatormandamus respondentmandamus partieswrit of mandamus Missouri