Judge reinstates municipal court, business resumes June 24

Posted 5/28/25

BELLE — Mayor James (Pudd) Mitchell, on May 13, announced to 21 community members at the monthly meeting that the Belle Municipal Court was reinstated.

“I’m happy to say …

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Judge reinstates municipal court, business resumes June 24

Posted

BELLE — Mayor James (Pudd) Mitchell, on May 13, announced to 21 community members at the monthly meeting that the Belle Municipal Court was reinstated.

“I’m happy to say — I’ll read this to everyone,” Mitchell said, holding a letter.

According to the letter from the 25th Judicial Circuit, serving Phelps, Pulaski and Maries counties, court operations were suspended on Feb. 3. However, OSCA reported that the deficiencies that led to the municipal court’s suspension have been rectified. Judge William E. Hickle of the 25th Circuit Court on May 12 reinstated the municipal court “effective immediately.”

Hickle ordered the municipal court closed following a Jan. 2 review conducted by the Office of State Court Administrators (OSCA) that resulted in 36 reported violations.

Alderman Rebecca Withouse questioned Mitchell about the closure during the March 11 meeting, which brought the issue to the public’s attention.

Since then, the issue has not been mentioned directly on any board agenda, though updates have been requested.

During the subsequent meetings, the aldermen attempted to correct issues by changing or negating the city’s ordinances that conflicted with OSCA policies. A special May 1 meeting was held to repeal several outdated court-related ordinances.

May was the first time Mitchell volunteered information regarding the court issue under the “mayor’s report.”

“I would like to thank these ladies for all the hard work they put into this,” Mitchell said, referring to City Hall office employees. “There’s a lot of time spent on it and a lot of effort, but we pulled it off and got everything took care of and he reinstated us.”

The city will hold its first court since January at 6:30 p.m. on June 24 at the Community Center. Most fines issued by city officers have been in limbo for the last four and a half months. Mitchell warned those required to attend that the upcoming session will likely be a long evening.

“It’ll probably be an all-nighter,” he said to laughter in the room.

“Bring your sleeping bag,” Alderman Steve Vogt added.