Learn more about qualifications for
Associate Circuit Court Judges
Judges Must be:
At least 25 years old,
Licensed to practice law in Missouri,
Qualified to vote in the state, and
A resident of the county in which the Judge serves.
About Mark Brinkmann:
Mark Brinkmann is 48 years old.
He became licensed to practice law in 2000 and has been practicing law for 22 years.
He is qualified to vote, and he resides in Franklin County, Missouri, with his wife, Kelly, and their three children.
The term of an Associate Circuit Judge is four years. All Judges other than municipal judges are required to retire when they reach 70 years old.
Courts in Franklin County
Missouri’s counties and the city of St. Louis are organized into 46 judicial circuits. There is a court in every county. The circuit court is typically in the county seat and may be in additional locations in the county. See more here.
Circuit Court
Circuit Courts handle all cases that are not handled by other divisions (Associate Probate, Juvenile, Drug/Treatment, Municipal) of the court.
The Circuit Court handles all felony cases, misdemeanor cases initiated in the Circuit Division, civil cases seeking money damages, and cases involving extraordinary remedies such as writs.
Associate Circuit Court
Associate Circuit Courts handle criminal misdemeanors and infractions, civil cases seeking money damages, landlord-tenant, small claims, and orders of protection. Felony criminal cases begin in Associate Circuit Court.
In felony cases, preliminary hearings are conducted in Associate Circuit Court to determine if there is probable cause to find that a felony was committed and the defendant was the one who did it. Upon finding probable cause, the case is bound over to Circuit Court.
More information about the Circuit Courts, Associate Circuit Courts, and other divisions can be found using the button below.