Spotlight on DWC
 by Suzette Carlisle

Barbara Burke – Court Reporter – St. Charles Office

This issue, we travel west on highway 70 to talk to Barbara Burke, Court Reporter II in the St. Charles office since 1988. But Court Reporter is only one of many terms that describe Barbara’s responsibilities.

“An innovator” is how Chief Administrative Law Judge Leslie Brown describes Barbara. “She is always striving to make things more efficient, run smoother and easier,” recalls Judge Brown. If you appear on a St. Charles out-state docket, Barbara may greet you and inform you that your client has arrived. She may ask you and opposing counsel questions to find out the nature of your business with the court. If you are making an announcement, more than likely you will be making it to Barbara.

However, if you need to speak to Judge Brown about a dismissal setting or to discuss settlement, Barbara will assign you a time to talk to the judge.

“She is much like a clerk in circuit court,” observes Judge Brown. Although officially she is there for pre-hearings and hearing settings, she will answer your questions, make telephone calls to the office and serve the people. “Barbara keeps the dockets running smoothly and she keeps everyone happy,” says Judge Brown. "Her willingness to accept additional duties has enabled the office to set more cases on out-state dockets," Judge Brown explains.

Barbara began working for the State of Missouri in the St. Louis office where she worked for a year and a half. She was loaned to St. Charles when Debbie Fogerson went on maternity leave and she never looked back. The office was growing. Then Legal Advisor Leslie Brown was promoted to ALJ and served with then Chief ALJ Dan Chatfield. This doubled the number of ALJs in the St. Charles office, so Barbara’s services were needed there.

Typing orders, awards and any correspondence that needs to be typed is the way Barbara describes a day in the office for her. She processes stipulations for compromise settlement and fills in as receptionist as needed. “This is a great office. We work well together,” boasts Barbara.

Barbara travels with Judge Brown, Judge Dinwiddie and Judge Mueller to three counties each month, spending a week in each county. She chuckles when she refers to her faithful companion, her briefcase on wheels. She needs to bring staplers, paper, and anything else she expects to need. The offices used for outstate dockets are borrowed and division staff must bring anything they think they may need. No telephones, faxes or other office amenities are available during these dockets.

Barbara puts case information on docket sheets along with notes from parties and retains the information for one year. The information is then forwarded to the judges.

But the staff is experienced. And Barbara offers the following advice to parties appearing on dockets: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. (The staff) knows what the judges like and how the docket should run. We are approachable. Be prepared with copies, cell phones etc. For example the Crystal City and Washington dockets have access to pay phones but the Union docket does not.”

Forty to sixty cases are assigned on the outstate docket where announcements are taken from 9:00 and 10:00. A hearing may begin at 10:30. Barbara keeps the docket moving from 9-4 p.m. The staff does not stop for breaks or lunch while on the outstate docket.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the St. Charles office schedules dockets every day. There were three judges and two court reporters until July when Debbie went off the hearing docket in anticipation of retirement. Barbara is handling the hearing docket solo until a new court reporter comes aboard. Hearings are currently being scheduled for October.

Energy is not a rare commodity for Barbara because she continues to make an impact after she turns off her computer and heads home.

She serves as secretary of Step Up! St. Louis, a non-profit organization of volunteers seeking to make a difference in the St. Louis community. The group has volunteered 4000 hours of community services to assist neighbors’ in cleaning weeds, planting flowers, building a playground, manning silent auctions, or providing financial assistance. Step Up! receives project proposals and reviews them based upon the following criteria:

• The request is from a non -profit organizations
  
• Proposals must be received three months before event
  
• The request must explain where the money is going