Judge Karen L. Krauser: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Appointed By: Gov. Jeremiah W. Nixon

Biography

The Hon. Karen L. Krauser is an associate judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jay Nixon in 2012.


Krauser has held assignments on the Missouri Supreme Court’s Municipal Judicial Education Committee and the Committee on Practice & Procedure in Municipal Division Cases. She holds the distinction of performing the first same-sex marriage in Clay County.


Prior to her appointment, Krauser was a municipal judge for the City of Platte Woods and the City of Excelsior Springs.


Krauser earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology from Park College in 1999. She then completed a J.D. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 2002. As a law student, Krauser clerked for the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.


After graduating from law school, Krauser began her legal career as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office. She handled thousands of criminal cases involving property crimes, domestic violence, sex crimes, and murder. Krauser served in that capacity until her appointment to the bench, rising through the ranks to become Deputy Chief in 2008.


Her memberships have included the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, the Clay County Bar Association, the Missouri Municipal and Associate Circuit Judges Association, and the Missouri Probate and Associate Circuit Judges Association. She has also been involved with the Park University Criminal Justice Advisory Group, Dress for Success Kansas City, and the Legal Aid of Kansas City.


Born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Krauser attended Liberty High School. As a child, she read science fiction and dreamed about becoming an astronaut living on the first colony on the moon.

Recent Cases by Hon. Karen L. Krauser

On September 28, 2026 a search warrant/invst sbpna case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Sep 28, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Circuit

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

Search Warrant/Invst Sbpna

Practice Area

Criminal

Matter Type

Criminal Related (Civil)

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 29, 2026

On July 14, 2026 an ac misc associate civil-other case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

4 Files
Filed

Jul 14, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Circuit

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Misc Associate Civil-Other

Case Last Refreshed

Jul 15, 2026

On June 29, 2026 an ac misc associate civil-other case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

4 Files
Filed

Jun 29, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Circuit

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Misc Associate Civil-Other

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 30, 2026

On June 29, 2026 a search warrant/invst sbpna case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Jun 29, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Circuit

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

Search Warrant/Invst Sbpna

Practice Area

Criminal

Matter Type

Criminal Related (Civil)

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 30, 2026

On June 29, 2026 an ac misc associate civil-other case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

4 Files
Filed

Jun 29, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Circuit

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Misc Associate Civil-Other

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 30, 2026

On June 29, 2026 an ac misc associate civil-other case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

4 Files
Filed

Jun 29, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Circuit

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Misc Associate Civil-Other

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 30, 2026

On June 26, 2026 a search warrant/invst sbpna case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Jun 26, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

Search Warrant/Invst Sbpna

Practice Area

Criminal

Matter Type

Criminal Related (Civil)

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 26, 2026

On June 25, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Jun 25, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 26, 2026

On June 25, 2026 an ac misc associate civil-other case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

5 Files
Filed

Jun 25, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Misc Associate Civil-Other

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 26, 2026

On May 20, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

May 20, 2026

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Case Last Refreshed

May 21, 2026

On May 1, 2023 an ac property damage case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

May 01, 2023

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Property Damage

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

May 02, 2023

On March 24, 2023 an ac other tort case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Mar 24, 2023

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Other Tort

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Mar 25, 2023

On March 17, 2023 an ac property damage case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Mar 17, 2023

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Property Damage

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Mar 18, 2023

On March 15, 2023 an ac declaratory judgment case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Mar 15, 2023

Status

Judgment (Other)

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Declaratory Judgment

Practice Area

Civil

Matter Type

Declaratory Action

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 13, 2023

On March 14, 2023 an ac declaratory judgment case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Mar 14, 2023

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Declaratory Judgment

Practice Area

Civil

Matter Type

Declaratory Action

Case Last Refreshed

Mar 15, 2023

On February 14, 2023 an ac declaratory judgment case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Feb 14, 2023

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Declaratory Judgment

Practice Area

Civil

Matter Type

Declaratory Action

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 15, 2023

On February 6, 2023 an ac other tort case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Feb 06, 2023

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Other Tort

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2023

On January 25, 2023 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Jan 25, 2023

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

Clay County

County

Clay County, MO

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 26, 2023

On January 12, 2023 an ac property damage case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Jan 12, 2023

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Property Damage

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 13, 2023

On December 8, 2022 an ac property damage case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Dec 08, 2022

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Property Damage

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

General Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 09, 2022

On October 18, 2022 an ac declaratory judgment case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Oct 18, 2022

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Declaratory Judgment

Practice Area

Civil

Matter Type

Declaratory Action

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 19, 2022

On October 14, 2022 an ac satop assignment review case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Oct 14, 2022

Status

Judgment (Other)

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC SATOP Assignment Review

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 12, 2023

On October 13, 2022 a cc tdn of dor decision case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Oct 13, 2022

Status

Closed

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

CC TDN of DOR Decision

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 14, 2022

On August 31, 2022 an ac reg of foreign judgment case was filed in the jurisdiction of Clay County. Judge Karen L. Krauser presiding.

Filed

Aug 31, 2022

Status

Foreign,Sister-State Judgment

Judge

Hon. Karen L. Krauser Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Karen L. Krauser

Court

MO-Clay

County

Clay County, MO

Court Category

AC Reg of Foreign Judgment

Practice Area

Creditor

Matter Type

Judgment Enforcement

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 12, 2023