Judiciary
Missouri Supreme Court Suspends Judge for Severe Delays in Case Rulings
March 5, 2025, 9:23 am CST
A Missouri judge has faced a year-long suspension without pay due to excessive delays in delivering judgments, misleading judicial regulators, and attorneys regarding his case management. (Image from Shutterstock)
The Missouri Supreme Court has imposed a one-year suspension without pay on Judge Joe Don McGaugh of Carroll County, following findings that he took an inordinate amount of time—sometimes several years—to issue rulings in numerous cases. This decision was articulated in a February 28 ruling that exceeded the six-month suspension initially recommended by the Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline.
The court highlighted that McGaugh would be required to undergo a mental health evaluation as a condition of his suspension, with the evaluation’s outcome determining his career trajectory—either a return to work under supervision or consideration for a disability retirement.
Details of the Case and Rulings
Evidence presented to the court revealed that McGaugh delayed issuing rulings in some instances for durations between five to six years after taking cases under advisement. The Missouri Supreme Court characterized his actions as “egregious,” detailing multiple instances where his lack of timely action directly impacted vulnerable parties, such as families and individuals facing financial hardships.
For example, in one notable case, an attorney expressed concern that a divorce litigant’s mortgage was pending default, pressing for urgency in rendering a judgment. McGaugh did not deliver a ruling for this case until 2024, despite having taken it under advisement in September 2021. Other cases revealed similar delays, including instances involving child custody and support modifications that took several years to resolve.
Untruthfulness and Accountability Issues
The Supreme Court judges noted significant accountability issues with McGaugh, as he misled both attorneys and the commission by incorrectly asserting that he had submitted judgments to court clerks on unresolved matters. In one instance, he promised to provide an update upon returning from a personal event, indicating a misalignment of personal priorities over judicial responsibilities.
Judge Ginger K. Gooch, in the court’s opinion, emphasized the profound implications of McGaugh’s failure to perform essential judicial duties. The court identified at least ten specific cases where delays inflicted harm upon individuals in desperate need of timely legal resolutions.
Responses and Future Considerations
In response to the allegations, McGaugh admitted to the shortcomings in his performance and had initially requested a three-month suspension or none at all under the consideration of a disability retirement. However, the Supreme Court maintained that it lacked the constitutional authority to divert from the recommendation offered by the commission.
Despite dissenting opinions that challenged the court’s authority to administer a suspension longer than what was suggested, the Supreme Court remained firm in its judgment. McGaugh, who commenced his role as a judge in 2017 following a tenure as a state legislator, has since left the state supreme court according to court clerks, and no current contact information is available.
For further insights into this case, refer to reports by The Missouri Independent and KTTN.
