MO Chief Justice Russell emphasizes mental health in annual address

by Aidan Pittman

Missouri News Network

Missouri Chief Justice Mary R. Russell spoke on mental health issues affecting the justice system during the annual State of the Judiciary address to the state legislature on Wednesday.

Russell has served as chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court since 2023 and previously held the position from 2013 to 2015. She spoke about how the mental issues of inmates cannot be treated effectively while in jail, causing deeper issues for those individuals and their communities.

“The longer inmates with mental health problems remain detained – without treatment or without being tried for a crime, let alone convicted — the worse they get,” Russell said.

For tackling these issues, Russell expressed the need for state and local governments to work together with the nonprofit and private sectors.

“Only by sharing our best ideas and pooling our limited resources can we make a positive difference,” Russell said. “All areas of the state are in dire need of mental health services for defendants. Together, we can build networks to help keep those in need of mental health services out of our courts and jails so that they can live safely and successfully in all of our local communities.”

Russell pointed out how mental health and security problems are present within juvenile detention.

“Having more high-risk, high-need youth staying longer in detention impacts the overall safety, security and rehabilitative focus of our entire juvenile justice system,” Russell said.

Russell thanked the legislature for considering a budget request that she said would “better serve youth in detention.”

She also praised measures taken to address mental health issues the justice system faces thus far, including pretrial service programs which she said she wishes to see made available to defendants in counties that currently do not offer them.

Earlier in her speech, Russell emphasized the need for increased juror compensation, which currently stands at $6 per day and an additional 7 cents for each mile jurors travel from home.

“Judges are embarrassed to tell jurors these rates,” Russell said. “We are grateful for your consideration of how to best compensate your local citizens for performing this important constitutional duty.”

Russell additionally shouted out Judges Kelly Broniec and Ginger Gooch, both of whom were appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court last fall, giving it a female majority for the first time in the state’s history.

“We are all grateful for Governor Parson’s appointments under the Missouri Plan,” Russell said, “and for his recognition that, sometimes, the best man for a job is actually a woman.”