Journal of the House

Second Regular Session, 94th General Assembly

FIFTEENTH DAY, Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

            Speaker Pro Tem Pratt in the Chair.

            Prayer by Msgr. Donald W. Lammers.

              On this day of voting, called Super Tuesday, let us pray.

              Almighty God, we praise You! We thank You for creating humankind in Your image and likeness, and for giving us the ability to "choose the good" (Isaiah 7:15), as one of the highest forms of acting in Your image and likeness.

              We pray for the citizens of our state, and of all the Super Tuesday states. Inspire them to concentrate upon "choosing the good" as they vote. In this simple act, may they experience their personal dignity and even the fulfillment of their duty before You, their God.

              When the voting is over, give us the humility and wisdom to discern the meaning of the results. In all our work in this House of Representatives, guide us carefully to "choose the good" and together to advance the common good. As we cast our votes on various issues, may we experience our own dignity of being created in Your image and likeness.

              We pray to You, who is our God forever and ever. Amen!

            The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was recited.

            The Journal of the fourteenth day was approved as printed.

MOTION

            Representative Tilley moved that Rule 114 be suspended.

            Which motion was adopted by the following vote:

            Speaker Jetton assumed the Chair.

ESCORT COMMITTEES

            The Speaker appointed the following committee to escort Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and members of the Senate to the dais: Representatives Cunningham (86), Wright, Scharnhorst, Kelly, Dethrow, Yaeger, Bringer, Zweifel, Donnelly and Page.

            The Speaker appointed the following committee to escort the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri to the dais: Representatives Jones (89), Lipke, Stevenson, Flook, Cox, Burnett, Witte, Zimmerman, Walton and Harris (23).

JOINT SESSION

            The hour of the Joint Session having arrived, the Senate in a body was admitted and Lieutenant Governor Kinder, presiding, called the Joint Assembly to order.

            The Secretary of the Senate called the roll, which showed a majority of the Senators present:

            The Chief Clerk of the House called the roll, which showed a majority of the Representatives present:

            The doorkeeper announced the approach of the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri. Chief Justice Stith was duly escorted to the House Chamber and to the Speaker’s dais where she delivered the following message to the assembly in Joint Session.

STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS

By

Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith

Introduction

              President Kinder, President Pro Tem Gibbons, Speaker Pro Tem Pratt, statewide elected officials, members of the General Assembly, members of the cabinet, my fellow Supreme Court judges, honored guests and fellow citizens:

              Thank you for your warm welcome. I am truly honored to be here. When I began my legal career nearly 30 years ago as a Supreme Court law clerk, I had no idea that one day I would have the opportunity to come before this honored assembly, as the state's second female chief justice, to deliver Missouri's 35th State of the Judiciary address.

              When I began my career, there were no female appellate or Supreme Court judges in Missouri and very few elsewhere. But now, for the first time in Missouri's history, we have three women on the Supreme Court. I thank Governor Matt Blunt for his appointment of Judge Patricia Breckenridge to the Court.

Courts and judges make a positive impact on Missouri's communities

              Like many of you, Judge Breckenridge is a true public servant. Over the past nine years, she has mentored five Kansas City children who, under her guidance, have become thriving teenagers looking forward to a promising future. Such efforts are the norm in the judiciary. Just a few weeks ago, for example, the judges and staff of the Western District appeals court finished a food drive that will feed nearly 400 needy families in the Kansas City area.

              I tell you about these activities for two reasons. First, we are proud of the community involvement and personal contributions of our judges. Second, a review of these activities affirms that, just as you legislators are well-known for your civic participation at all levels, so too are the vast majority of our judges. They are in the same civic groups as you; they work to make a difference in their communities, like you; and, like you, judges and court staff make a positive impact on their communities through the performance of their official duties.

              Just last month, for example, Jackson County received national honors for its family court probation and aftercare services. This program has reduced the recidivism rate drastically; now only 4 percent of its youth are referred back to the family court within six months.

              Across the state, in the city of St. Louis, Judge Jimmie Edwards has reorganized the juvenile court so effectively that most felony offenses are processed within five weeks and misdemeanors within two weeks. This gets juvenile offenders off the streets, out of detention centers and into rehabilitative services sooner. It also has reduced the city's juvenile detention population by about a third, saving precious resources.

              Judge Mary Sheffield and the 25th Circuit in south-central Missouri - along with Judge Rick Zerr and the 11th Circuit in St. Charles County - are piloting what we hope will become a statewide model for family courts. This enhanced "unified family court" system assigns a single judge to a particular family, which diminishes the likelihood of fragmented and inconsistent court results and reduces the time families have to spend in court. This new unified family court system will make a real difference in the lives of your constituents.

Drug courts are important for Missourians

              Programs like these demonstrate how hard-working court professionals can turn around young lives and keep families together. Drug courts, also, are helping urban and rural communities throughout the state reap similar benefits. Since they were established in Missouri 15 years ago through bipartisan efforts, our drug courts have graduated more than 6,200 individuals. An incredible 90 percent of these never return to our criminal justice system! I thank my colleague, Judge Ray Price, for his instrumental role in the development and oversight of these courts as chairman of Missouri's statewide drug court commission. In fact, the reason he is unable to be with us today is that he is in Washington, D.C., attending a board meeting of the National Association of Drug Court Professio