Margaret L Sauer 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County)

Recommendations

The 16th Circuit Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee recommends that Judge Margaret L. Sauer BE RETAINED.

Position

Associate Circuit Judge

Evaluation Year

2010

Background

Judge Sauer was appointed associate circuit judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit in May 2000. She holds a Bachelor of Science in special education-orthopedically handicapped from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and a Master of Science degree in special education learning disabilities from the University of Kansas. She received her law degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Prior to becoming a judge, she was deputy commissioner for the 16th Circuit Court, Probate Division from 1991-2000.

She is a member of the Missouri Supreme Court Executive Council, Missouri Judicial Conference. She is also a member of the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges, serving on its board of directors from 2005-2007. Judge Sauer is also a member and past president of the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, The Missouri Bar and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

Judge Sauer is a board member of the Lyric Opera Guild (2001-2010) and a member and volunteer at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.

Discussion

Attorneys who responded to survey questions rated Judge Sauer on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 representing a response of “not at all,”,and 5 representing “completely.”

She received her highest scores for: maintaining and requiring proper order and decorum in the courtroom (4.28); and treating people equally regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, economic status, or any other factor (4.20). Judge Sauer’s lower scores were for: rulings on dispositive motions that state reasons and consistently apply the substantive law (3.73); and, competency in the law (3.85). However, the committee notes that Judge Sauer’s lower scores were far above the average for retention.

The committee did not review juror responses to surveys, as associate circuit judges do not regularly conduct jury trials.

The committee reviewed a written order submitted by Judge Sauer which dealt with issues of pleading and procedure. The committee finds the order to be well reasoned, succinct and clearly written.