--- title: "John N. Borbonus | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-n-borbonus-judge-missouri-18th-judicial-circuit-court-mo" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # John N. Borbonus Missouri 18th Judicial Circuit Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Missouri 18th Judicial Circuit Court - State: Missouri - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media equipment advance approval Scope: statewide Missouri Court Operating Rule 16 requires advance approval for media equipment used for courtroom coverage and allows the judge to control the number and setup of media personnel and equipment. Evidence excerpt: Failure to obtain advance approval for equipment may preclude its use in the proceeding. [Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### device use in courtroom Scope: statewide Missouri courtroom device use for media coverage is not generally permitted unless authorized by the operating rule, a local court rule, or the judge presiding in the proceeding. Evidence excerpt: No person may use any device capable of media coverage in a courtroom or court clerk's office unless specifically authorized [Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### audio video recording Scope: statewide Missouri allows limited video and audio recording for media coverage under COR 16 technical limits, subject to judicial approval and courtroom controls. Evidence excerpt: Not more than one videographer, using a single device, shall be permitted in the courtroom during a judicial proceeding at any time. [Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/bluebook/2025-2026/5_Judicial.pdf) - [Official roster](https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/bluebook/2025-2026/5_Judicial.pdf) - [Missouri Secretary of State Official Manual official judicial roster](https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/bluebook/2025-2026/5_Judicial.pdf) - [Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-n-borbonus-judge-missouri-18th-judicial-circuit-court-mo", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-n-borbonus-judge-missouri-18th-judicial-circuit-court-mo", "name": "John N. Borbonus | KnowJudges", "description": "John N. Borbonus, Missouri 18th Judicial Circuit Court. 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Parson - Following law school, he held the role of an assistant attorney general for the State of Missouri from 1994 to 1997 ### Education - B.A. in government and politics from George Mason University in 1988 and a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1994. ### Additional information - He has been retained in judicial elections, including a 2016 retention election where he received 56.54% of the vote. - Judge Borbonus has presided over a variety of civil and family law cases. - Judge Borbonus combines extensive legal experience with a strong record on the bench. - He then became a principal at the law firm King, Krehbiel, Hellmich & Borbonus, LLC, where he focused on civil litigation, including real estate law, civil rights defense, insurance defense, and employment law - His career spans public service as an assistant attorney general, private practice in civil litigation, and over a decade of judicial service in Missouri’s 21st Judicial Circuit, where he is recognized for professionalism and adherence to judicial standards - In one notable incident, he sentenced a lawyer to a week in jail for directing the F-word toward him during a medical malpractice hearing, demonstrating his enforcement of courtroom decorum and authority - Evaluations by judicial committees indicate that 100% of the committee found he substantially meets overall judicial performance standards ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-b0a3408119d84bbcc3619511) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354). Collected 2026-07-26.