A municipal court is a court with small area of authority over criminal offenses and civil matters within its location. These courts can be found at the city or county tier.
Martinsburg Municipal Division INformation
Court: Martinsburg Municipal Division
Address: “Audrain County Courthouse 101 North Jefferson Street, Mexico, MO 65265”
Phone: 573-473-5840
City: Mexico
County: Audrain
State: Missouri
What is the purpose of the Martinsburg Municipal Division?
Municipal Courts are often called “courts of limited jurisdiction.” This means that they handle minor criminal charges, civil disputes, and traffic violations. Courthouses like Martinsburg Municipal Division are the first level of court for these types of cases.
In other situations, the purpose of a county court is to deal with a large number of civil disputes within the respective region. Most cases involve family matters, injury cases, more serious criminal infractions, or lawsuits.
County courthouses have the jurisdiction to deal with misdemeanors and civil actions that can not exceed the amount of $15k, while the circuits courts handle felony matters and more expansive civil matters.
TYPES OF Legal Matters adjudicated IN A MUNICIPAL COURT in Mexico, Missouri
Municipal courts are the bottom rung of courthouses in the U.S.. They are usually found within the jurisdiction where they are located, but some locales share municipal courts with other municipalities.
This can be done to better assist their population or to save money on overhead costs. The matters that could be heard by a municipal court depend on the municipality, but typically include traffic crimes, small criminal charges and code violations.
You will not find a standard for what makes a misdemeanor versus a felony crime, but generally speaking felonies would require more time in jail than misdemeanors and fines may also be higher for felonies. Traffic violations usually result in points against your driver’s license as well
how are cases managed in the municipal court in Mexico?
Judges manage hearings to determine:
- Probable cause for arrest
- Set bail amounts and terms of release
- Conduct arraignment hearings when charges are filed against suspects by police officers
- Distribute search warrants to police officers in order to protect evidence from crime scenes
- Conduct preliminary inquiries to learn if there is enough evidence to mount a charge
The Process of a Municipal Court matter
First Step: An Issuance of Summons
Second Step: Appearance before Judge or Magistrate
Municipal Court Penalties in Mexico, MO
Penalties change often, which is why it’s good to speak with licensed lawyer near you. The information below represents common penalties, but may not be accurate for the Martinsburg Municipal Division.
A violation is a crime that carries a penalty of $500 or less, while a misdemeanor charge can carry penalties up to $1k or one year in local jail. A person’s driving privileges may be suspended for six months if they receive three speeding tickets within 12 months.
The penalties for different charges in municipal courthouses vary depending on the severity of an charges. For example, if you are caught with marijuana without having a license for it then you could be fined up to $2k or spend up to six months in jail.
Martinsburg Municipal Division Records
Municipal Court records from a municipal court could be difficult to find because they are not always stored in one area or system. The records that a person might need to depend on the type of case they have before the court, what stage it is at in the process, and what kind of of information is required by law to be available.
Common Questions ABOUT the Martinsburg Municipal Division
What is municipal court in Mexico, Missouri?
In Missouri, the municipal court is a lower court with civil and criminal jurisdiction within a city or municipality. Municipal courts have a small location and have limited authority as well, dealing only with petty crimes and misdemeanor charges.
What does the municipal court handle in Mexico, Missouri?
Depending on the scope of the municipality, a municipal court can handle a civil division (cases with less than $15,000 at issue), a traffic/criminal division, or a housing and environmental division. Serious cases/crimes are handled by higher authorities.
How many judges does the Martinsburg Municipal Division have?
The number of judges depends on the municipality’s size.
How are cases heard in municipal courts in Missouri?
A municipal courthouse judge may be either elected or appointed to serve for a set term of years or until retirement. Judges are sometimes chosen by the people with each precinct’s results judged according to population. Municipal magistrates are often not attorneys but have some legal education and must finish multiple hours of continuing education every year to maintain their licenses.