478.003. Administration--commissioners, appointment, term, removal, powers, duties, qualifications, compensation--orders of commissioners, confirmation or rejection by judges, effect. - Missouri Statutes

Administration--commissioners, appointment, term, removal, powers,duties, qualifications, compensation--orders of commissioners,confirmation or rejection by judges, effect.

478.003. In any judicial circuit of this state, a majority of thejudges of the circuit court may designate a judge to hear cases arising inthe circuit subject to the provisions of sections 478.001 to 478.006. Inlieu thereof and subject to appropriations or other funds available forsuch purpose, a majority of the judges of the circuit court may appoint aperson or persons to act as drug court commissioners. Each commissionershall be appointed for a term of four years, but may be removed at any timeby a majority of the judges of the circuit court. The qualifications andcompensation of the commissioner shall be the same as that of an associatecircuit judge. If the compensation of a commissioner appointed pursuant tothis section is provided from other than state funds, the source of suchfund shall pay to and reimburse the state for the actual costs of thesalary and benefits of the commissioner. The commissioner shall have allthe powers and duties of a circuit judge, except that any order, judgmentor decree of the commissioner shall be confirmed or rejected by anassociate circuit or circuit judge by order of record entered within thetime the judge could set aside such order, judgment or decree had the samebeen made by the judge. If so confirmed, the order, judgment or decreeshall have the same effect as if made by the judge on the date of itsconfirmation.

(L. 1998 H.B. 1147, et al. § 5 subsec. 2)