Section V Section 24

Constitution

Effective - 02 Sep 1976, see footnote   

  V Section 24.  Retirement, removal and discipline of judges, commission on — composition, terms, duties, procedures, reimbursement of expenses — additional duties prohibited. — 1.  There shall be a commission on retirement, removal, and discipline, composed of two citizens who are not members of the bar, appointed by the governor, two lawyers appointed by the board of governors of The Missouri Bar, one judge of the court of appeals to be selected by a majority of the judges of the court of appeals, and one judge of the circuit courts to be selected by a majority of the circuit judges of this state.  The commission shall receive and investigate all requests and suggestions for retirement for disability, and all complaints concerning misconduct of all judges, members of the judicial commissions, and of this commission.  No member of the commission shall participate in any matter in which he has a personal interest.  If a member is disqualified to participate in any matter before the commission, the respective selecting authority shall select a substitute to sit during such disqualification.  Of the members first appointed, each of the citizen members shall be appointed for a term of two years and each of the lawyer members for a term of four years, and each of the judge members for a term of six years; and thereafter members shall be appointed for a term of six years.

  2.  Upon recommendation by an affirmative vote of at least four members of the commission, the supreme court en banc shall retire from office any judge or any member of any judicial commission or any member of this commission who is found to be unable to discharge the duties of his office with efficiency because of permanent sickness or physical or mental infirmity.  A judge, except a municipal judge so retired shall receive one-half of his regular compensation during the remainder of his term of office.  Where a judge subject to retirement under other provisions of law, has been retired under the provisions of this section, the time during which he was retired for disability under this section shall count as time served for purposes of retirement under other provisions of this constitution or of law.

  3.  Upon recommendation by an affirmative vote of at least four members of the commission, the supreme court en banc, upon concurring with such recommendation, shall remove, suspend, discipline or reprimand any judge of any court or any member of any judicial commission or of this commission, for the commission of a crime, or for misconduct, habitual drunkenness, willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetency or any offense involving moral turpitude, or oppression in office.  No action taken under this section shall be a bar to or prevent any other action authorized by law.

  4.  A judge is disqualified from acting as a judicial officer while there is pending an indictment or information charging him in any court in the United States with a crime punishable as a felony under the laws of Missouri or the United States, or a recommendation to the supreme court by the commission for his removal, or retirement, or after articles of impeachment have been voted by the house of representatives.  A judge so disqualified shall continue to receive his salary.

  5.  On recommendation of the commission, the supreme court shall suspend a judge from office without salary when in any court in the United States he pleads guilty or no contest to, or is found guilty of, an offense punishable as a felony under the laws of Missouri or the United States, or of any other offense that involves moral turpitude.  If he is suspended and his conviction becomes final the supreme court shall remove him from office.  If his conviction is reversed and he is discharged from that charge by order of court or of the prosecuting officer, whether without further trial or after further trial and a finding of not guilty, his suspension terminates and he shall be paid his salary for the period of suspension.

  6.  Recommendations to the supreme court by the commission shall be made only after notice and hearing.  Rules for the administration of this section and for the procedures thereunder shall be prescribed by supreme court rule unless otherwise provided by law.

  7.  Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

  8.  Additional duties shall not be imposed by law or supreme court rule upon the commission on retirement, removal and discipline.

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Source: Const. of 1945 (Amended August 3, 1976).

(1999) Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline lacks jurisdiction to prosecute claims against judge for alleged misconduct occurring prior to becoming a judge. In re Burrell, 6 S.W.3d 869 (Mo.banc).