Butler County
Butler County, situated in the southeastern region of the Ozark Foothills, was established in 1849 from portions of Wayne County. Covering an area of roughly 699 square miles, the county is named in honor of U.S. Representative William O. Butler. The population of Butler County is approximately 41,948, with Poplar Bluff serving as the administrative center.
Butler County residents are served by the 36th Judicial Circuit Court and its Municipal Divisions. The Butler Circuit Court is the trial court with original jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. It handles civil lawsuits involving disputes between entities and individuals, such as personal injury claims, contract disputes, and property disputes.
Other functions of the Butler Circuit Court include hearing serious criminal matters, probate cases, domestic relations matters, and appeals from cases heard in the municipal divisions.
Administered by the Circuit Court, the Fisk, Poplar Bluff, and Qulin Municipal Divisions hold hearings for ordinance and traffic violations within their respective jurisdictions. For violations, these courts have the authority to impose fines, community service, or jail terms in some cases.
The Butler County Circuit Clerk maintains the complete and accurate records of cases heard in the Circuit Court. These records are presumably open for public inspection and copying unless deemed confidential by state law, court order, or court rule. Any member of the public can view details in publicly available court records, including the case number, filing date, party names, judgment, and case status. During regular business hours, interested parties may visit the office of the Circuit Clerk to review or request copies of court records for a nominal fee.
With a personal computer or cell phone, you can remotely access public court documents for Butler Circuit Court cases. This is made possible through the Missouri Case.net website, where users can search for cases by litigation name, scheduled hearing, litigant name, or case number. However, it is important to note that court documents filed before July 1, 2023, are not available on this website.
