Author:
Kimberly Benjamin, a renowned DWI and criminal defense attorney and founder of the Missouri DWI & Criminal Law Center at the Benjamin Law Firm, is celebrated for her exceptional trial skills and dedication to defending the accused, with notable accolades including the SuperLawyer award and the Atticus Finch Award.
January 25. 2024.
What Kind of Cases Does the Municipal Court of Kansas City Handle?
Facing a case in Kansas City Municipal Court can be daunting, but with the right guidance, victory is within reach. Led by award-winning attorney Kimberly Benjamin, our team offers unparalleled expertise in navigating the complexities of the Municipal Court. With over 200,000 cases processed annually, including traffic offenses and ordinance violations, our insights are your advantage. Don’t let legal challenges overwhelm you – seize the opportunity for a favorable outcome. Act now to secure your future!
As the largest municipal court in Missouri, this court processes more than 200,000 cases each year consisting of:
- Traffic offenses (i.e., speeding, driving while intoxicated, and parking tickets)
- General regulation offenses (i.e., trespass, assault, disorderly conduct)
- Building regulations and nuisance infractions (i.e., inadequate home or property upkeep, weeds, trash)
- Animal health and public security offenses (i.e., no animal license, animal abuse/neglect, animal attacks)
At the Missouri DWI & Criminal Law Center, we frequently represent clients in the Municipal Court of Kansas City MO for city ordinance violations. Read on for our guide to navigating this Municipal Court system or reach out to our firm for more information.
What Is the Kansas City Missouri Municipal Court’s Location?
If you have been accused of violating a city ordinance law in Kansas City, you will likely need to visit the Municipal Courthouse at some point to attend your court hearings, pay your traffic tickets, or to speak with an administrator. In fact, the majority of residents come into contact with the judicial system through this court, either as a victim, a defendant, or a witness.
Below, you will find general information about the Kansas City MO Municipal Courthouse.
Where Is the Kansas City Courthouse?
The Courthouse is located at 511 E. 11th Street at the corner of 11th and Locust. The building’s entrance is on 11th Street.
For customer service questions or to make a payment with a cashier, our firm recommends visiting the Violations Bureau on the first floor. Don’t forget that your traffic ticket is payable until the scheduled court date. If you pay the fine before that specific court date, a court appearance won’t be necessary. However, bear in mind that paying the fine will mean you are pleading guilty to that particular offense. If you would like to dispute the citation and not pay fine, you have to appear at the specific court date listed. But, if you don’t pay your fine and miss your scheduled court appearance, that may result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.
The first floor of the courthouse also houses the Probation Office and the City Prosecutor’s Office.
The courthouse has nine courtrooms:
- Courtrooms A, B, C, D, and I – located on the second floor
- Courtrooms E, F, G, and H – located on the third floor
How to Contact the Kansas City MO Municipal Court
Throughout a municipal case in Kansas City, your domestic violence attorney will most likely handle the communication between you and the court. However, if you prefer a more hands-on approach to managing your court case, knowing who to reach out to with questions and how to contact them can help your case run more smoothly.
In addition to visiting the courthouse in person, you can contact the court by phone or by email.
Municipal Court Phone Number and Email Addresses
To contact Municipal Court office by phone, call (816) 513-2700. It is open between the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Mon through Fri.
You can also email the court office using one of the following email addresses:
- General messages: court@kcmo.org
- Probation questions: probation@kcmo.org
- Payment inquiries: mcpayment@kcmo.org
Kansas City MO Municipal Court Records and Case Information
There are numerous ways you can search for, view, or request info about your court case. If you are looking for general case information, you can visit the Violations Bureau on the first floor of the courthouse or contact our team of lawyers in Kansas City. To view info about a municipal court ticket in an open/active or probation case, you can conduct a search using the online municipal court ticket information system.
To request a court record, you can use one of the following methods:
- Visit the Violations Bureau on the first floor of the courthouse.
- Download, complete, and submit this form to court@kcmo.org.
- Send a detailed message through fax to 816-513-6782 or call 816-513-2700.
It’s important to note that court records in cases that have been dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or involve completed sentence probation are considered confidential or non-public records. Confidential case records may be released to the defendant, the defendant’s attorney, or to any other person with a signed and notarized release from the defendant. You can download the confidential records release form here.
What Is the Kansas City MO Municipal Court Docket?
In Missouri, courts use dockets to manage and organize each case that they see. The term “docket” is used to describe the cases on a court’s calendar, and the notes written by the court clerk stating the actions taken in court.
Each day, the Municipal Court of Kansas City displays the docket on a large monitor on the first floor of the courthouse. The docket for each courtroom is displayed on a monitor just outside the door of the courtroom. The set docket schedule can be viewed online here.
Kansas City Missouri Municipal Court Docket Walk-Ins
A large part of the Municipal Court’s docket schedule is its walk-in dockets. The Municipal Court holds walk-in dockets to allow individuals with warrants, particularly for failure to appear, to speak to a Municipal Judge to see if the judge will put a hold on their warrant and provide another court date without needing to go through the cost of posting bond. Prior to taking this route, however, you will need to be prepared to post a bond due to the possibility that the judge will not cancel your warrant and will rather decide to take you into custody.
Walk-in dockets likewise offer a chance to request a continuation if you can not remain in court on your scheduled future court date but are not qualified for a continuation by web or phone. You probably won’t be able to solve your case or show evidence to the Municipal Judge at the walk-in docket, but you might be issued a new court date. Walk-in dockets are likewise a good choice for individuals who have a case that has already been disposed of, but they are having trouble meeting the Order of the Court to pay a fine, participate in a class, or participate in community service.
Below is the schedule for the Kansas City, MO Municipal Court’s walk-in dockets.
General Cases:
- Monday 9 am – 11 am (Courtroom C)
- Wednesday 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (Courtroom E)
- Friday 9 am – 11 am (Courtroom A
Housing and Animal Cases (Courtroom I):
- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 10 am – 11 am and 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
- Thursday 9 am – 11 am
Domestic Violence Cases (Courtroom E):
- Monday-Friday, 9 am – 11 am
Although they can be beneficial, you should never attend a walk-in docket without consulting with an attorney first. Walk-in docket appearances are only advisable on a case-by-case basis, and attending a docket without a lawyer’s legal guidance could end up doing more harm than good. Contact the Missouri DWI & Criminal Law Center today to determine your best course of action with one of our award-winning criminal defense lawyers.
Who Are the Kansas City MO Municipal Court Judges and What Divisions Do They Handle?
As one of the largest courts in Missouri, the Municipal Court of Kansas City has several judges, each of whom handles different divisions within the municipal court system.
These judges and their docket responsibilities are outlined below:
- Judge Ardie A. Bland – Division 205 (Courtroom A)
- Mental Health Court: Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
- Veterans Treatment Court: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
- Judge Keith R. Ludwig – Division 204 (Courtroom B)
- Judge Michael C. Heffernon – Division 202 (Courtroom C)
- Presiding Judge Corey A. Carter – Division 201 (Courtroom D)
- Truancy Court: Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.
- Judge Courtney A. Wachal – Division 203 (Courtroom E)
- Domestic Violence Court: Monday – Friday at 9:00 a.m.
- Drug Court: Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
- Judge Martina L. Peterson – Division 208 (Courtroom F)
- Reinstatement Court: 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m.
- Judge Katherine B. Emke – Division 206 (Courtroom G)
- Judge Anne J. LaBella – Division 207 (Courtroom H)
- Judge Todd D. Wilcher – Division 209 (Courtroom I)
- Housing Court: Monday all day; Tuesday – Thursday at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
- Animal Ordinance Violations: Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
- Fire Code Violations: Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
Consistently proving themselves as one of the top law firms in the Kansas City area, the Missouri DWI & Criminal Law Center has extensive experience working with these judges and knows how to develop the best defense for municipal court cases. A city ordinance violation can result in up to $1,000 in fines as well as up to 180 days in jail, and wrongful convictions remain a serious problem even at the municipal level.
To protect your freedom, future, and finances, you should never face the judges without a dedicated legal advocate by your side. Please contact us today for a free consultation.
