Mo. Rev. Stat. § 545.015
545.015 Definitions.
545.015. Definitions. — As used in chapter 545 , unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(1) "Magistrate" means associate circuit judge;
(2) "Circuit court" means a division of the circuit court presided over by a circuit judge; and
(3) "Judge of the circuit court" means a circuit judge.
(L. 1978 H.B. 1634) Effective 1-02-79