Case Title: In re Marriage of M.S.

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC94101

State: missouri

Court: Missouri Supreme Court

Date: 2015-02-10T00:00:00Z

Document:
SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI 
en banc 
 
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF: M.S., 
) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
) 
 
 
 
Appellant, 
 
) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
) 
vs. 
 
 
 
 
 
) 
No. SC94101 
 
 
 
 
 
 
) 
D.S.,  
 
 
 
 
) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
) 
 
 
 
Respondent.  
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APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY 
The Honorable John N. Borbonus III, Judge  
 
Opinion issued February 10, 2015 
 
 
This is an appeal from a judgment dismissing a petition to dissolve a same-
sex marriage between M.S. and D.S.  The circuit court dismissed the action sua 
sponte, with prejudice, on grounds that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction and 
constitutional and statutory authority to dissolve the marriage due to the state 
constitutional and statutory bans on same-sex marriage.   See MO. CONST. art. I,  
sec. 33; section 451.022, RSMo Supp. 2001.  This Court holds that that the circuit 
court had subject matter jurisdiction over the case.  For that reason only, the 
judgment is reversed, and the case is remanded. 
 
The circuit court dismissed the petition for lack of subject matter 
jurisdiction before D.S. was served or given an opportunity to answer the petition.  
While Rule 55.27(g)(3) requires a circuit court to dismiss an action “[w]henever it 
appears by suggestion of the parties or otherwise that the court lacks jurisdiction 
of the subject matter,” Missouri procedural rules do not authorize a judgment on 
the merits prior to service and an opportunity to answer the petition.  (Emphasis 
added).  Therefore, the court’s sua sponte judgment of dismissal for lack of 
subject matter jurisdiction did not resolve any of the underlying issues raised in 
the petition, including the court’s constitutional or statutory authority to dissolve a 
same-sex marriage.    
 
The sole issue before this Court is whether the circuit court had subject 
matter jurisdiction.  The jurisdiction of Missouri circuit courts is defined by article 
V, section 14 of the Missouri Constitution: 
The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction over all cases 
and matters, civil and criminal.  Such courts may issue and 
determine original remedial writs and shall sit at times and 
places within the circuit as determined by the circuit court. 
 
The plain language of article V, section 14 provides that Missouri circuit courts 
have jurisdiction over all civil cases and matters.  J.C.W. ex rel. Webb v. 
Wyciskalla, 275 S.W.3d 249, 253 (Mo. banc 2009).  Nothing in article I, section 
33 purports to limit this broad grant of jurisdiction.1 
 
In this case, M.S. filed a petition for dissolution of marriage.  A petition for 
dissolution of marriage is a civil case or matter falling within the jurisdiction of 
the circuit court.  Assuming for the sake of argument only that the circuit court 
lacked constitutional or statutory authority to grant the requested relief, the court 
                                                 
1 Because article I, section 33 does not limit circuit courts’ subject matter 
jurisdiction, the Court does not reach or decide M.S.’s argument that this provision 
is unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment 
to the United States Constitution.  
3 
 
would still have subject matter jurisdiction to dispose of the petition by denying 
the requested relief.  While the circuit court had subject matter jurisdiction over 
this civil case, this Court expresses no opinion as to the merits of any aspect of this 
case, including the constitutional or statutory authority of the circuit court to 
dissolve a same-sex marriage.  The judgment is reversed, and the case is 
remanded.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________  
 
 
 
 
 
 
RICHARD B. TEITELMAN, JUDGE 
 
All concur.