Commission on Retirement, Removal, and Discipline of Judges

2190 South Mason Road
Suite 201
St. Louis, MO 63131

Phone: (314)-966-1007
Fax: (314)-966-0076

Email: jim.smith@courts.mo.gov
Website: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=230

Director: Jim Smith

Details on Board or Commission

Authority: Article 5, Section 24

Mission: As a forum for citizens with complaints against judges, judicial conduct commissions help maintain the balance between judicial independence and public accountability and serve to strengthen the judiciary by encouraging judges to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct. The commission's primary concern is judicial behavior, not judicial decision-making

Function: 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.

SubCommittees: none

Details on Meetings

Number of meetings: 4 to 12 meetings

Location of meetings: St. Louis, Kansas City, Lake of the Ozarks; varying locations depending on case site

Duration of meetings: 1 to 2 days

Preparation time for meetings: 10 to 20 hours to prepare for meeting and hearings

Total time commitment: 10 to 30 hours

Details on Members

Total members: 6

Appointed members: 2

Term length: 6 years

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

Member Requirements: 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.

Political Requirements: no

Geographic Requirements: no

Senate Consent Required: No