Mary W. Sheffield at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Missouri · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mary W. Sheffield
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Missouri Court of Appeals, 2012-present
- Judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, serving from December 3, 2012, until July 25, 2025
- In 2015–2017, she also held the role of Chief Judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals
- Presiding circuit judge of the 25th Judicial Circuit (2004–2012)
Education
- BA — North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Additional information
- A 2014 Missouri Appellate Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee review found her retained with high marks for attentiveness to arguments, collegial decision-making, and punctuality.
- Appointed by Governor Jay Nixon in 2012 to fill a vacancy left by retired Judge Robert Barney.
- Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2012)
- U.S. International Liaison Network Judge for the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
- Also President of the National College of Probate Judges and Past President of the Blue Ridge Institute for Juvenile and Family Law Judges
- She handled criminal, civil, juvenile, and family cases during her trial court tenure.
- Chief Justice’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Judiciary
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
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District
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 July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Missouri Secretary of State Official Manual official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Missouri Secretary of State Official Manual official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 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 ↗