Local News Appeal denied in Cole County records case The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling by former Cole County Presiding Judge Pat Joyce in a 2015 open records case. by Jeff Haldiman Jul. 28 2021 @ 11:05pm The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling by former Cole County Presiding Judge Pat Joyce in a 2015 open records case. Aaron Malin had appealed a ruling by Joyce denying his motion for civil contempt, which requested the Cole County Prosecutor's Office be found in contempt for failing to comply with an earlier judgment that required the prosecutor to search for and produce records requested by Malin.