<p>What really happens inside Missouri’s Associate Circuit Courts?<br>Judge <strong>Denise Childress</strong> of St. Charles County joins host <strong>Judge Matt Hamner</strong> to share what everyday justice looks like - from <strong>orders of protection</strong> and <strong>child support</strong> to <strong>family law</strong> and <strong>landlord-tenant</strong> cases.</p><p>She talks about handling hundreds of cases a week, working with people who represent themselves, and why keeping courts open and accessible matters to every Missourian. Judge Childress also reflects on her journey from public defender to the bench, the mentors who guided her, and how teaching and fairness shape her approach to the law.</p><p><strong>Topics include:</strong><br>– What to expect in Missouri’s Associate Circuit Court<br>– Orders of protection and family law cases<br>– Child support, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes<br>– The role of mentorship and education in the judiciary<br>– Why open courts build public trust</p><p><strong>About Missouri Law Matters</strong><br>A podcast from the <strong>Supreme Court of Missouri</strong>, sharing conversations with judges and court professionals about how the law works in real life - and how Missouri’s courts serve the public every day.</p>