Missouri Revised Statutes Title XXXII. Courts § 482.300. Judges to maintain separate docket for small claims--court to be known as small claims court--assignment of cases

(1) In counties where there is only one resident associate circuit judge, such cases shall be filed with the clerk serving such judge and thereafter heard by him;

(2) In counties where there is more than one resident associate circuit judge, such cases shall be heard by such associate circuit judge or judges as may be provided by local circuit court rule, or in the absence of such rule, as may be appointed by the presiding judge of the circuit, and such cases shall be filed with the clerks serving such associate judges as are so designated, unless a centralized filing system for such cases be provided by local court rule.