MUNICIPAL COURT
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN COURT IS OPEN
Every municipal court has different hours it is open. It is important that you check the court's website or call the court's clerk to determine when it is open.
RIGHT TO ATTEND COURT
Municipal courts in Missouri are open to the public.
Appropriate attire please. No Food/Drinks or Cell Phones are allowed in the courtroom. No shorts, hats, sleeveless shirts, half-shirts, or pajamas.
RIGHT TO RELEASE PENDING HEARING
If you are in jail for a municipal charge, you have the right to be released unless the court decides you need to be in jail for the protection of the community. If the court orders your release from jail, there may be conditions on your release. This can include a bond set by the judge to insure your return to court on the date set by the judge.
RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY
You have the right to be represented by an attorney and may hire one at any time, When you first appear in court, you can ask to postpone the hearing one time so you can hire an attorney, However, you are not required to have an attorney represent you. You may represent yourself.
RIGHT TO HAVE A JUDGE DECIDE IF YOU CAN AFFORD A LAWYER OR PAY FINES
If you want an attorney, but cannot afford one, you can ask that the Judge decide if you qualify for a court-appointed attorney. You will be required to fill out paperwork about your finances as part of this process.
You can also request the Judge to decide if you are able to pay court fines or to be granted an alternative sentence. You may be require to fill out paper work regarding your finances as part of this process.
RIGHT TO REQUEST A DIFFERENT JUDGE
You may request a change of Judge for any reason with ten (10) days after you enter your initial plea. If it is past the ten (10) days, then you must show cause why the Judge should be changed.
In addition, a Judge may decide he or she can not hear the case if they have a conflict of interest in the case or the Judge will appear as the Prosecuting Attorney in a neighboring county where the Prosecuting Attorney will serve as Judge.
RIGHT TO TRIAL
If you plead not guilty, your case will be scheduled for trial. Because of the number of cases the court hears each month and the need to have the officer and any witnesses present, your case may not be heard that night. If it needs to be rescheduled, that evening you will be given a future court date for trial.
When your case is scheduled for trial, it will be in the same municipal court in which you appear, UNLESS you request a jury trial. A request for a jury trial should be made by written motion 10 days prior to the scheduled trial date, If the motion is timely, your case will be sent to the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of Clay County for a new trial date with a jury.
At trial, you have the right to testify or remain silent. If you remain silent, it is not considered an admission of guilt. If you testify, the judge may consider any statement you make in deciding your guilt or innocence.
You have the right to ask questions of witnesses testifying against you.
You have a right to subpoena witnesses to come to trial and testify.
If you are found not guilty, the case ends.
If you are found guilty, you can accept the decision or appeal to the Clay County Circuit Court. If you appeal your case, you will be granted a new trail before a different judge. The request for appeal must be made within ten (10) days of the court's decision and cannot be extended for any reason. You can appeal even if you are not able to pay. You may ask the clerk for information on the process.
COURT CONTACT
Municipal Judge - The Honorable Stuart Wieland
Court Administrator - Dawn Coonce
Court Office Phone:(816) 452-4539
Email: claycomocourt@claycomo.org
To Contact the Court
Court Clerks are available by phone and in person Monday - Thursday 8am - 5pm. Court Clerks are also available by email @ claycomocourt@claycomo.org The Court does not use/accept voicemail.
** The
Municipal Court Office CLOSE at NOON on Thursdays and are closed every Friday. **
Court Dockets are usually the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month. On court days, the Court Office closes at NOON on court days to prepare for court and check in attorneys. Check-in for defendants is between 4:40-5:00pm.
Witnesses
If you are appearing as a witness, please check in with the clerk in the courtroom upon arrival.
To Request a Continuance
You may request one continuance in advance of your court date. Contact the court by phone at (816) 452-4539 (before the day of court.) Voicemail is not accepted. All other requests for continuance must be made with the judge on your assigned court date.
The judge cannot take telephone calls or see you outside of the courtroom. The court does not have voicemail. Continuance requests will not be granted after noon on the day of court.
Plea Agreements
All plea agreements must be presented to the Prosecutor. Please contact the court office at (816)452-4539 for further information. The Village Prosecutor will be available to meet with attorneys at 4:30 pm on the night of court.
Failure to Appear
Failure to appear in court on your assigned court date may result in a warrant being issued for your arrest. Your failure to appear will be reported to your state licensing authority and your driving privilege will be suspended or a hold placed on your license. If your ticket is eligible for the Violation's Bureau below, you can choose to plead guilty and pay before your court date.
To "plead and pay" before court click here: www.courts.mo.gov . Choose the "MAKE A PAYMENT" option. Then the "PLEAD AND PAY" option. You will need to choose the County we are in (Clay County 7th Judicial Circuit) and enter your ticket/case number.
PUNISHMENT AND FINES
If you plead guilty or are found guilty in court, you may face the following:
- Minor traffic violation - up to $225 total fines and costs
- Housing, zoning or building codes violations - up to $200 total fine & costs for the first violation; $275 for the second violation in a year; $350 for the third violation and $450 for the fourth violation.
- All other municipal code violations - up to $500 fine plus costs.
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If your ticket was issued before 9-01-2022 and you cannot find it on courts.mo.gov please call the court offices for more information.
**If your ticket was issued AFTER 9/01/22**
TO PLEAD AND PAY BEFORE COURT
Click the link below and choose the "Plead and Pay" box. https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=1886
You will need your litigant name and/or ticket number(s).
Claycomo Municipal Court is in Clay County- 7th Judicial Circuit.
TO PAY BY WEB (After the Judge has dispositioned your case)
https://www.courts.mo.gov/pbw/search.do?execution=e1s1
You will need to choose "Clay County 7th Judicial Circuit" and enter your ticket number.