Jasper County Circuit Court receives prestigious honor

(From the 29th Judicial Circuit Court)

The Supreme Court of Missouri honored the Jasper County Circuit Court for its excellence in service and timely justice to the public during fiscal year 2019. Presiding Judge Gayle Crane was presented with the Daniel J. O'Toole Award following the Criminal Justice Summit last week at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The O'Toole Award, named for the late judge's service as the first chair of the time standards monitoring committee, recognizes excellence and efficiency in the service of justice. 

As explained by Missouri Supreme Court Judge Laura Stith, "Daniel O'Toole left as his legacy his commitment to an efficient judiciary. This commitment is crucial – timely case processing is fundamental to an effective judicial system – and to justice itself. The staff and judges in these circuits should be commended for their commitment to providing timely justice to the public." 

In 1997, time standards were created to serve as guidelines for processing cases before the Court. The standards govern the court’s decision-making processes and case management practices with the goal of delivering justice in an efficient, fair, and consistent manner. This is the first time the Jasper County Circuit Court has received this recognition since the award's inception in 1998.