On August 9, 2021, the Supreme Court of Missouri Historical Society, in connection with the Supreme Court of Missouri, celebrated the bicentennial of the Court. The Chief Justice, Paul C. Wilson, the Judges of the Court, former Judges of the Court, the Clerk of the Court, Betsy AuBuchon, Trustees of the Society, and many more attended the celebration at the Supreme Court building.
The program included the presentation of a Resolution recognizing the long and outstanding service of recently retired former Supreme Court Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith, as well as the unveiling of a portrait of one of the first three judges of the Court – Judge John Rice Jones. It was one of only two portraits missing from the Court’s collection, and was prepared and donated to the Court by the Historical Society.
On display for visitors at the Bicentennial Celebration was the first opinion issued by the Court in 1821, (Weldon v. Collier), and the record book for the first meeting of the Court in Franklin. In addition, the Court had prepared a special cake designed in the shape of the Supreme Court building.
The conclusion of the evening featured a rousing presentation by former Chief Justice of the Court, now federal Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., who spoke on one of the original judges of the Court, John D. Cook, who hailed from Cape Girardeau. It was an entertaining and informative presentation for all.
