Missouri Appeals Court Upholds Limits on Municipal Judge’s Authority in Competency Evaluations

The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District has dismissed Municipal Court Judge Michael C. Heffernon’s appeal regarding his perceived authority to mandate competency evaluations. This decision revolved around a writ of prohibition that prevented Judge Heffernon from instructing the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to assess twelve defendants implicated in violations of city ordinances. The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s determination that Heffernon overstepped his statutory bounds under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 552.020, which governs proceedings tied to mental illness in criminal cases.