JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, was recognized recently by the Missouri Judicial Conference with its 2013 Special Recognition Award for outstanding legislative service to the people of Missouri and his contributions to improving the administration of justice in Missouri. 

"Senator Dixon made significant reforms to the allocation of judicial resources and we, in the judiciary, are very fortunate to have someone like him help us build bridges between our two branches of government," said Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell.

 “I am honored to receive this award, and I thank the Judicial Conference for this recognition,” said Sen. Dixon.  “It has been my privilege to work with Missouri’s judges to promote the administration of justice.  As chair of the Senate Judiciary committee, I am dedicated to a strong, effective justice system, which protects individual liberty and promotes a free society, and where routine matters of life and work can be resolved quickly.”

This year, Sen. Dixon sponsored or handled several key bills related to Missouri’s justice system:   

• House Bills 374 & 434, which included provisions establishing a process for reorganization of the state’s judicial circuits and providing for the rational distribution of judicial resources (original filed by Sen. Dixon as SB 21 and SB 22);
• House Bill 215, which updated and strengthened Missouri laws related to the prosecution of sex crimes, domestic violence, child predators and sexually violent predators, and also included provisions related to Missouri Public Defender caseloads (originally filed by Sen. Dixon as SB 414); and
• Senate Bill 327, which provided more options to counties with respect to the electronic monitoring of certain criminal defendants.

As Judiciary chair, Senator Dixon also took a leadership role in an ongoing effort to revise and modernize Missouri’s criminal code.  

The Judicial Conference of Missouri is the organization of the state’s judges and judicial commissioners.  The presentation was made at the Judicial Legislative Recognition Breakfast on Sept. 19, as part of the Missouri Bar/Judicial Conference Annual meeting in Columbia, Mo. 

For more information on HBs 374 & 434, HB 215, SB 327, or other bills sponsored by Sen. Dixon, visit his website at www.senate.mo.gov/dixon and click on the Legislation tab.