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The city is not required to hold a special election to replace Downs and a replacement will be appointed to fill the seat until April 2010, said City Administrator Russell Rost. At that point, an election will be held to complete the final year of the judge's term until 2011.
Livengood added that the city could appoint a replacement for Downs at a Dec. 7 special meeting, however a Dec. 3 trial date cannot be rescheduled. He added that he will ask Downs if she can stay for that court date, or Judge Wood could appoint an attorney to hear those cases.
Wood oversees all judges, circuit and municipal, within the 20th District. In the letter, Downs stated that she gave up her private practice due to an illness, however, since her recovery, she has decided to more aggressively pursue career opportunities.
"I began a long and arduous course of medical treatment for a significant health issue which ultimately resulted in my decision to discontinue my full-time private practice," Downs wrote. "It pleases me to announce to you that I have made a full physical recovery and begun new career pursuits which no longer permit me the time to fulfill the duties of the Union municipal court judge."
Livengood said the city will consider those who are interested in serving as judge until the April election.
Municipal judge candidates must be licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri, be a state resident and be between the ages of 21 and 75. A candidate may not serve as judge in any other municipality and may not hold any other city office. A candidate may have other employment as the office is considered a part-time position.
The annual salary for the judge is $3,000.
Downs stated that she leaves the successor of the office with a "technologically advanced municipal court."
"The Union Municipal Court is one of the first of Missouri's municipal courts to be integrated into Missouri's statewide courts Case.Net automated case management system which provides, among other advantages, the public the means to track Union ordinance violations cases on the Internet," Downs wrote.
Case.Net was established in 1997 and allows the public to research public records of court cases within the state. Through Case.Net, Internet users can search cases through litigant names, filing dates, case numbers or scheduled hearings and trials.
The search also can be refined to a particular circuit court and county, as well as case types, such as civil or criminal.
"The Union Municipal Court has separately implemented additional means of Internet access to the public for the payment of citations and to attorneys to facilitate their court filings and communications with the city prosecuting attorney, all without levying any additional financial burdens on taxpayers," she added.
"I extend my gratitude to the citizens of Union for 12 wonderful years as Union municipal court judge," said Downs.
