WENTZVILLE, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court removed Wentzville Municipal Judge Michael “Mike” Carter on Friday, October 30, after finding that he failed to meet judicial standards of ethical conduct. The decision was reported Friday afternoon by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The misconduct case centered on Carter’s social media activity. According to the Post-Dispatch, his posts included remarks mocking criminal defendants’ physical appearances, endorsements of political candidates and comments questioning whether women who use drugs can be victims of sex crimes.

The ruling follows months of disciplinary proceedings. In June, Missouri’s Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges recommended Carter’s removal following an investigation that identified 26 alleged instances of misconduct between October 2025 and April 2026.

The commission’s concerns included Carter’s public commentary about court matters and social media polls involving pending cases. State judicial ethics rules require judges to maintain impartiality and public confidence in fair proceedings.

In September, the commission’s administrator, Jeffrey Benoist, opposed Carter’s request for leniency. The dispute then went before the Missouri Supreme Court, which has final authority over judicial discipline in the state.

Friday’s action is the final court ruling, not merely the earlier commission recommendation. The Post-Dispatch reported that the Supreme Court ousted Carter from his Wentzville judicial position.

Wentzville Municipal Court is a division of Missouri’s 11th Judicial Circuit and handles municipal ordinance and traffic matters. Details about the court’s replacement arrangements were not immediately established in the reporting available Friday evening.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporting, October 30, 2026.