Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jan 21, 2025
State of Missouri, ex rel. ArchCity Defenders, Inc., Blake A. Strode, Individually, and John Waldron, Individually, Relators, vs. The Honorable Joseph P. Whyte, and the Honorable Joseph A. Rathert, Respondents.
Relators ArchCity Defenders, Inc., Blake A. Strode, and John Waldron sought a writ of mandamus or prohibition to challenge a trial court's order transferring their underlying case from St. Louis City back to Jefferson County. The appellate court found that the motion to transfer venue back to Jefferson County was untimely under Rule 51.045 because the petitioner, Blakeney, could not file such a motion. Accordingly, the court made its preliminary order in mandamus permanent, directing the circuit judge to transfer the case to St. Louis City.