Judge Michelle L. Cocayne
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Petition
Court-wide- 1 copy • Upon Filing
Communication
Phone
Phone
Document Format Requirements3 rules
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The motion must be legibly handwritten or typewritten, signed by the movant, and concisely answer every applicable question.
In order for this motion to receive consideration by the Circuit Court, it shall be in writing (legibly handwritten or typewritten), signed by the movant, and it shall set forth in concise form the answers to each applicable question.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The parties’ trial exhibit lists must use the exhibit-list form available on the Court’s website.
The format for the parties’ exhibit lists shall be in the form available on the Court’s website.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
In order for this motion to receive consideration by the Circuit Court, it shall be in writing (legibly handwritten or typewritten), signed by the movant, and it shall set forth in concise form the answers to each applicable question.
Summary: For the Circuit Court to consider the motion, it must be written, signed by the movant, and concisely answer each applicable question.
Document Filing Requirements9 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The completed motion’s original and two copies must be mailed to the clerk of the sentencing court.
When the motion is completed, the original and two copies shall be mailed to the Clerk of the Circuit Court from which the movant was sentenced.
Document Type
Motion To Vacate Set Aside Or Correct Judgment Or Sentence
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The motion must include every claim known to the movant; omitted claims are waived or abandoned.
The movant is required to include in this motion every claim known to him for vacating, setting aside or correcting the conviction and sentence or it will be waived or abandoned.
Document Type
Motion To Vacate Set Aside Or Correct Judgment Or Sentence
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The motion must include every known ground for relief, be sworn to, and state that all known grounds have been listed.
If you file such motion, you must put in it every ground known to you for ===== PAGE 2 ===== vacating, setting aside or correcting the judgment and sentence. The motion must be sworn to. In it you must state that you have listed all grounds for relief known to you.
Document Type
Post Judgment Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
The motion must include every claim known to the movant for vacating, setting aside, or correcting the conviction or sentence.
The movant is required to include in this motion every claim known to him for vacating, setting aside or correcting the conviction and sentence or it will be waived or abandoned. Be sure to include every claim.
Document Type
Motion To Vacate Set Aside Or Correct Judgment Or Sentence
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Parties must exchange lists and copies of anticipated trial exhibits before trial.
Pursuant to the Court’s case management order, lists and copies of exhibits the parties anticipate offering at trial are to be exchanged prior to trial.
Document Type
Exhibit List
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Before evidence is introduced, counsel must provide the Court Reporter with a list of anticipated trial witnesses.
Prior to the introduction of evidence, counsel will provide the Court Reporter a list of the witnesses they anticipate calling at trial.
Document Type
Witness List
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The motion must be sworn to. In it you must state that you have listed all grounds for relief known to you.
Summary: The motion must be sworn to and state that all grounds for relief known to the movant have been listed.
Document Type
Motion To Vacate Set Aside Or Correct Judgment Or Sentence
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
In order for this motion to receive consideration by the Circuit Court, it shall be in writing (legibly handwritten or typewritten), signed by the movant, and it shall set forth in concise form the answers to each applicable question.
Summary: The movant must sign the motion and provide concise answers to each applicable question.
Document Type
Motion To Vacate Set Aside Or Correct Judgment Or Sentence
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
If the motion is taken in forma pauperis, it shall include an affidavit setting forth information that establishes that movant will be unable to pay costs of the proceedings.
Summary: A motion filed in forma pauperis must include an affidavit establishing that the movant cannot pay the costs of the proceedings.
Document Type
Motion To Vacate Set Aside Or Correct Judgment Or Sentence
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A written hearing request must be made by the amended-motion filing deadline; absent a timely request, no hearing will be held.
A written request for a hearing of the motion must be made on or before the date an amended motion is required to be filed. If no request for a hearing is timely made, a hearing will not be held.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
An amended motion is permitted but must be filed within the strict time limits stated in paragraph (f) of the Rule.
The Rule allows an amended motion to be filed but it must be filed within certain strict time limits. These limits can be found in paragraph (f) of the Rule.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 2 | ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A written request for a hearing must be filed no later than the deadline for an amended motion, and no hearing will be held if the request is not timely made.
A written request for a hearing of the motion must be made on or before the date an amended motion is required to be filed. If no request for a hearing is timely made, a hearing will not be held.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 2 | ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Dispositive motions must be filed no later than four months before trial.
Dispositive motions shall be filed no later than four (4) months prior to the trials setting.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
At least 14 calendar days before the pretrial conference, each party must serve and file page-and-line designations of deposition testimony intended for trial.
By 14 calendar days before the pretrial conference, parties shall serve and file designations by page and line of deposition testimony that the offering party intends to read at trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DEPOSITION DESIGNATIONS
Motions to join additional parties must be made no later than 90 days after the scheduling order's date.
All motions for joinder of additional parties shall be made no later than ninety (90) days from the date of this order.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | JOINDER OF ADDITIONAL PARTIES
At least 10 calendar days before the pretrial conference, each party must serve and file objections and counter-designations concerning the other party's deposition designations.
By 10 calendar days before the pretrial conference, each party shall serve and file any objections to the other party’s disposition designations and shall provide any counter designations of testimony proposed to be read with the other party’s designations.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DEPOSITION DESIGNATIONS
Proposed verdict directors must be filed with the court before the pretrial conference.
PROPOSED VERDICT DIRECTORS shall be filed with the Court prior to the pre-trial conference.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | PROPOSED VERDICT DIRECTORS
Objections to counter-designations must be served and filed with the court no more than three calendar days before the pretrial conference.
No more than ===== PAGE 2 ===== 3 calendar days before the pretrial conference, the parties shall serve and file with the Court any objections to the other party’s counter designations.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | DEPOSITION DESIGNATIONS
Witness and exhibit lists must be filed on the Wednesday before trial.
WITNESS AND EXHIBIT LISTS shall be filed the Wednesday before trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | WITNESS AND EXHIBIT LISTS
Motions in limine must be filed no more than three calendar days before the pretrial conference.
MOTIONS IN LIMINE shall be filed no more than 3 calendar days before the pretrial conference
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | MOTIONS IN LIMINE
Witness and exhibit lists must be filed on the Wednesday before trial.
WITNESS AND EXHIBIT LISTS shall be filed the Wednesday before trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | WITNESS AND EXHIBIT LISTS
Dispositive motions must be filed no later than four months before the trial setting.
Dispositive motions shall be filed no later than four (4) months prior to the trials setting.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
Parties must serve and file objections and counter-designations regarding deposition designations 10 calendar days before the pretrial conference.
By 10 calendar days before the pretrial conference, each party shall serve and file any objections to the other party’s disposition designations and shall provide any counter designations of testimony proposed to be read with the other party’s designations.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DEPOSITION DESIGNATIONS
Parties must serve and file page-and-line designations of deposition testimony intended for trial at least 14 calendar days before the pretrial conference.
By 14 calendar days before the pretrial conference, parties shall serve and file designations by page and line of deposition testimony that the offering party intends to read at trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DEPOSITION DESIGNATIONS
Proposed verdict directors must be filed with the court before the pretrial conference.
PROPOSED VERDICT DIRECTORS shall be filed with the Court prior to the pre-trial conference.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | PROPOSED VERDICT DIRECTORS
Motions in limine must be filed no more than three calendar days before the pretrial conference.
MOTIONS IN LIMINE shall be filed no more than 3 calendar days before the pretrial conference
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | MOTIONS IN LIMINE
Parties must serve and file objections to counter-designations no more than three calendar days before the pretrial conference.
No more than 3 calendar days before the pretrial conference, the parties shall serve and file with the Court any objections to the other party’s counter designations.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DEPOSITION DESIGNATIONS
The motion must be filed with the Jackson County Circuit Court within 180 days from the defendant’s current date.
If you file such motion, it must be filed with the Jackson County Circuit Court within One hundred eighty (180) days from today’s date.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A motion to vacate, set aside, or correct the judgment or sentence must be filed within 180 days of the date shown, and failure to file within that period waives the right to proceed under the rule.
If you file such motion, it must be filed with the Jackson County Circuit Court within One hundred eighty (180) days from today’s date. If you fail to file the motion within this time you will completely waive, that is, give up your right to proceed under this Rule.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The scheduling order was automatically served on attorneys of record through the court’s electronic filing system on the stated date.
This is to certify that the foregoing was automatically forwarded to the attorneys of record through the Court's eFiling system at the date stated above.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Certificate of Service
Filing Fees and Waivers
A motion filed in forma pauperis must include an affidavit establishing that the movant cannot pay the costs of the proceedings.
If the motion is taken in forma pauperis, it shall include an affidavit setting forth information that establishes that movant will be unable to pay costs of the proceedings.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | INSTRUCTIONS - READ CAREFULLY
No cost deposit is required to file the motion.
You can file this motion without paying a cost deposit.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The motion may be filed without paying a cost deposit.
You can file this motion without paying a cost deposit.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Extensions will not be granted for a sur-reply filed fewer than 30 days before trial.
No extensions will be granted for sur‑reply filed less than 30 days prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
No sur-reply extension will be granted if the sur-reply is filed fewer than 30 days before trial.
No extensions will be granted for sur-reply filed less than 30 days prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
Chambers Communication Rules
For questions about civil and domestic cases, contact Corey Myers by phone at (816) 881-3677 or by email at corey.myers@courts.mo.gov.
For questions regarding civil and domestic cases contact: Corey Myers, Law Clerk, (816) 881-3677 corey.myers@courts.mo.gov
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | For questions regarding civil and domestic cases
For questions about criminal and probation cases, contact Mary Little by phone at (816) 881-3606 or by email at mary.little@courts.mo.gov.
For questions regarding criminal cases, including probation cases, contact: Mary Little, JAA, (816) 881-3606 mary.little@courts.mo.gov
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | For questions regarding criminal cases, including probation cases