Missouri Supreme Court suspends judge for 'egregious' behavior

The Missouri Supreme Court has officially suspended an associate circuit judge for an entire year.

Associate Circuit Judge Joe Don McGaugh will no longer be able to perform any legal services for the next 12 months after all seven of the state’s supreme court judges decided to discipline him.

The decision to suspend McGaugh comes after the judge left countless families in a state of limbo and failed to settle their cases in a timely manner.

One case that began in 2021 was not resolved until 2024 despite the client warning the judge they could lose their home in foreclosure without a swift judgment being made.

In other cases surrounding divorce, child custody, and child support, dozens have waited just the same -- years on end with no resolution.

An investigation was eventually launched into the judge was launched by the Commission on the Retirement, Removal, and Discipline of Judges.

When the investigation concluded, the commission recommended McGaugh be suspended for six months.

The court, however, decided that was not long enough for McGaugh to pay for his actions and upped the suspension to a full year.

Judge Ginger Gooch released a statement on the decision made by the court.

“His performance issues extend well beyond his own grossly untimely performance of his duties,” wrote Judge Gooch.

“The uncontested allegations also establish he was untruthful with attorneys, parties, and the commission on multiple occasions. He repeatedly failed to respond to court staff and, even worse, blamed court staff when he knew he failed to perform his judicial duties,” she continued.

“In sum, this is an egregious case of multiple instances in which a judge completely failed to timely perform his duties, compounded by a pattern of dishonesty toward lawyers, parties, court staff, and the commission on multiple occasions,” Gooch continued. "He repeatedly failed to respond to court staff and, even worse, blamed court staff when he knew he failed to perform his judicial duties."

Gooch concluded, "At the time of this opinion issuing, multiple court cases remain unresolved due to Judge McGaugh’s delays, which have continued despite this extended disciplinary proceeding.”

Americans need to be able to trust those in charge of our legal system, or else our entire democracy is at risk of falling apart!

Public servants should be some of the hardest working people in this entire country and it's a shame that so many judges, politicians, and officers have forgotten that!