The Supreme Court of Missouri has recognized the 4th Judicial Circuit – encompassing Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties – for timely processing cases impacting children during fiscal 2024. The circuit received its Permanency Award during a semiannual meeting of the state’s presiding judges, held in late May.

The Permanency Award recognizes the leadership and hard work of judges, juvenile officers, clerks, children’s division workers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and other support staff to protect children who have been abused or neglected. The time standards, established in 2006, apply to certain types of hearings in cases in which children are removed from their homes. They are intended to help provide stability for the children by ensuring they are reunited with their families or placed in another permanent home as soon as possible.

“When children are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect by adults in their lives, they rely on our Missouri courts to find them a safe, stable and permanent home as quickly as possible,” Missouri Chief Justice Mary R. Russell said. “These cases can be confusing or downright frightening for the children involved, and so I appreciate the efforts of our local court staff to prioritize these hearings and help the children reach a final resolution as promptly as possible.”

In fiscal 2024, there were nearly 44,600 mandatory hearings. Collectively, the state’s courts completed 95 percent of these critical abuse and neglect hearings on time. Impressively, all 16 circuits receiving this year’s Permanency Award completed 100 percent of their hearings on time. This is the 16th time the 4th Circuit has earned the Permanency Award.

The circuit’s presiding judge, Judge Corey K. Herron, said, “We are certainly appreciative of Judges Joel Miller and Brett Hurst, as well as Chief Juvenile Officer, Kent Lager, for timely moving cases which so dramatically impact the children and families of our circuit.”