Mary R. Russell at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Missouri · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mary R. Russell
Chief Justice · Supreme Court of Missouri
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Supreme Court of Missouri, 2004-present
- Her colleagues elected her chief justice twice, first from July 2013 to June 2015 and again from 2023 to 2025
- Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, from 1994 to 2004, including a term as chief judge from 1999 to 2000.
- One of six University of Missouri Law graduates on the seven-judge Missouri Supreme Court bench
Education
- University of Missouri in — J.D. (1983)
- Truman State University — B.A.
- University of Missouri-Columbia — J.D.
Additional information
- She has held the role of a trustee of the State Historical Society of Missouri since 2012 and continues to advocate for public understanding of the judicial process
- Joined the Supreme Court of Missouri in 2004 by Governor Bob Holden.
- Practitioner, 2003-2003
- She graduated summa cum laude from Northeast Missouri State University in 1980
- Date of birth: 1958-07-28
- After law school, she clerked for George Gunn at the Missouri Supreme Court before entering private practice in Hannibal, Missouri
- A seventh-generation Missourian, Russell has maintained strong ties to her home state throughout her career.
- She emphasizes the importance of diversity on the bench, noting that judges’ varied backgrounds strengthen the court
- She helped create interactive programs like “You Be the Judge” to educate Missourians about the judicial system.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Media Equipment Advance Approval
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.
Failure to obtain advance approval for equipment may preclude its use in the proceeding.Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical ↗
Device Use In Courtroom
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.
No person may use any device capable of media coverage in a courtroom or court clerk's office unless specifically authorizedMissouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
Missouri allows limited video and audio recording for media coverage under COR 16 technical limits, subject to judicial approval and courtroom controls.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical
Supreme Court of Missouri
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 3, 2026.
Missouri Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View Missouri Courts official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 3, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical ↗