Zel M. Fischer at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Missouri · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Zel M. Fischer
Judge · Supreme Court of Missouri
Biography
Professional career
- American judge who has served on the Supreme Court of Missouri since 2008, including a two‐year term as Chief Justice from 2017 to 2019
- Judge, Supreme Court of Missouri, 2008-present
- Judge, Missouri Court of Appeals, 2008-present
- Chief Justice: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019
- Local Judicial Role: Elected Atchison County judge in 2006
- Early Career: Private practice in Atchison, Nodaway, and Holt counties; clerked for Justice Andrew Jackson Higgins (1988–1989)
Education
- William Jewell College — B.A.
- University of Missouri-Kansas City — J.D.
Additional information
- Governor Blunt cited Fischer’s strict interpretation of the Missouri Constitution and laws as the reason for his appointment In 2024, Fischer voted against allowing a statewide ballot initiative to legalize abortion and women’s reproductive rights, joining the dissent in a 4–3 ruling
- 15, 2008, Judge Fischer was retained by voters at the November 2010 and 2022 general elections for 12-year terms.
- Practitioner, 2007-2007
- Date of birth: 1963-04-28
- Appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov.
- Matt Blunt on Oct.
- Rock Port High School
- Upon graduation from law school, Fischer was admitted to The Missouri Bar and he served for one year as a law clerk for the Honorable Andrew Jackson Higgins of the Supreme Court of Missouri.
- He has also ruled that Missouri’s constitutional “right to farm” does not extend to marijuana
- Zel M. Fischer is a long‐serving, highly rated Missouri Supreme Court justice known for a conservative judicial approach, leadership as Chief Justice, and active engagement in both legal and community affairs
- Birth place: Hamburg
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 ↗