Associate Circuit Judge Debra Hopkins attended the 96th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges that was held recently at Lake Ozark, Mo.
The association provides continuing legal education at its three-day conference, with membership open to all state judges and commissioners. All but two of the state’s 45 judicial circuits were represented. Among the 165 judges and commissioners registered were judges from the Missouri supreme court and the state’s three courts of appeal.
At the MAPACJ’s business meeting, the officers and board of directors for the coming year were elected, with Commissioner S. Margene Burnett of Jackson County to serve as president. The vice-president is Karl A.W. DeMarce of Scotland County, who will then be president the following year.
Six legislators from the Missouri General Assembly were honored at the conference for their work to improve the administration of justice: Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon; Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield; Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City; Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis; Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem; and Rep. Mike Colona, D-St. Louis.
This year’s conference included educational programs on probate law, mental health issues, probable cause statements and warrants, adult abuse, debtor-creditor concerns as well as a legislative update. Chief Justice Ray Price shared information about the state’s drug court programs at a luncheon that was also attended by members of the Missouri Association of Court Clerks, with that group also having its annual conference and meeting at Lake Ozark.
Debra Hopkins has been the Associate Circuit Judge for Bates County since 2009.
