On June 17, 2026, a state judicial panel urged that Wentzville municipal judge Mike Carter be removed from office, arguing his social media habits undercut public confidence in his ability to be fair. The panel flagged posts that appeared to mock people who had stood before him in court and interactive polls about pending cases as signs he crossed an ethical line.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline concluded that Carter's online activity, which included years of breaking-news commentary and political posts, "mocked defendants" and created an appearance of bias. The commission formally recommended that the Missouri Supreme Court remove him from the bench.
Judge's profile and online presence
Michael (Mike) Carter is listed as Wentzville's municipal judge on the City of Wentzville's municipal court page, which provides his role along with contact and calendar information for the municipal division. He has also campaigned for higher office and built a notable social media following along the way, as coverage from St. Louis Public Radio notes.
Panel findings
The panel's written findings called out specific posts and interactive polls that asked followers for their opinions on matters still pending in court and, in the panel's view, made fun of people who had appeared before the bench, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The commission said those actions "eroded public confidence" and ran past the ethical boundaries judges are supposed to observe to protect the appearance of impartiality.
What happens next
Under Missouri law, recommendations from the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline head to the Missouri Supreme Court, which has the final say on whether to accept, modify or reject any disciplinary measure. The constitutional framework for that process appears in Article V of the state charter, the Missouri Constitution.
Legal context
In past years, Missouri's high court has reviewed commission recommendations and imposed a range of outcomes, from temporary suspension to outright removal, depending on the details of each case. Recent decisions show the court weighing the commission's findings alongside the specifics of a judge's conduct before choosing discipline. For one recent opinion where the court acted on a commission recommendation, see Justia.
If the Supreme Court follows the commission's recommendation in Carter's case, he would be removed from the municipal bench, a rare but significant step for a local judge who handles traffic and ordinance matters. For now, the report sits with the state's highest court, which will set the timing and scope of any further proceedings.
