Eric Schmitt, et al. Missouri Cases

Elad Gross appealed the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the Missouri Attorney General's Office (AGO) on his claims that the AGO violated the Sunshine Law and the Missouri Constitution's free speech protections. Gross also challenged the trial court's protective order closing discovery. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in closing discovery due to Gross's failure to provide a transcript. The court further held that the AGO properly complied with the Sunshine Law regarding record production delays and the closure of records related to potential litigation, thus rejecting the free speech retaliation claim.

Jessica Hicklin, sentenced to life without parole as a juvenile for first-degree murder, challenged the constitutionality of her sentence and Missouri's legislative response to Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v. Louisiana via a declaratory judgment action. The circuit court rejected her claims. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed, holding that a declaratory judgment was the proper vehicle for challenging statutory validity, and that Missouri's scheme providing parole eligibility for Miller-impacted juveniles was constitutionally permissible and did not violate the separation of powers.