David Gregory Kays at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- Jurisdiction
- Missouri · Federal
- Judicial service
- June 19, 2008–present
David Gregory Kays
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- presiding judge, 2005-2008
- assocate circuit judge, 1995-2004
- Judge, Circuit Court of Missouri, Twenty-Sixth Judicial Circuit, 1995-2008
- Adjunct faculty, Drury University, 1991-2004
- Prosecutor, Laclede County, MO, 1991-1995
- chief assistant prosecutor, 1989-1991
- Assistant public defender, Springfield, MO, 1989-present
- Assistant prosecutor, Laclede County, MO, 1988-1991
- Private practice, Missouri, 1988-1989
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, W.D. Missouri, 2008-present
Education
- Missouri State University
- University of Arkansas
Personal record
Born 1962 · Kansas City, MO
Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392716CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1716/david-gregory-kays/Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts