Effective 28 Aug 1993

487.050. Judges and commissioners, qualifications — reviewability — removal, grounds — terms. — 1. To the extent feasible, judges designated as family court judges and the commissioners appointed under sections 487.020 to 487.040 shall be those who:

(1) Desire to be so assigned;

(2) Have the temperament necessary to deal properly with cases that come before the family court;

(3) Have completed, or within six months after designation or appointment complete, a course of training in family law;

(4) Attend annual continuing education courses to further training in family issues and law.

2. The qualifications contained in this section of any person designated as family court judge or appointed commissioner shall be reviewable within the superintending control vested in the supreme court and the districts of the court of appeals by Article V, Section 4 of the Constitution of Missouri.

3. The commissioners shall act at all times in a manner befitting a member of the bench. The commissioner shall devote full time to the duties of commissioner and shall not engage in the private practice of law.

4. A commissioner may be removed from office during a term by a majority of the circuit and associate circuit judges en banc upon proof at a hearing before such judges of crime, misconduct, habitual drunkenness, willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetency or any offense involving moral turpitude or oppression in office or unsatisfactory performance of duties.

5. Judges designated as family court judges shall serve in such capacity for a term of four years unless such judge's term is either extended at such family court judge's option or shortened with the agreement of the family court judge and the presiding judge.

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(L. 1993 H.B. 346 § 3)