Judge Beetem is the
Division I circuit judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit which is Cole
County. Division I is one of three circuit court divisions in Cole
County. He handles a variety of cases, including felony criminal cases and
family law cases and conducts 10 docket days a month.
The Circuit Court of Cole County handles some 3000 circuit cases every year, not including probate and juvenile. Over 60 percent are family law cases. Felony criminal cases make up about 20 percent of the dockets with the balance being general civil cases such as tort cases, contract cases and declaratory judgment cases.