Greene County circuit clerk to stand trial after election

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The trial of the Greene County circuit clerk on allegations of impropriety will be held after the November election, a judge has decided.

Senior Supreme Court Justice William F. Mauer on Friday set Mike Carr's trial date for Dec. 2.

Carr, who is seeking re-election, is accused of denying or discouraging people from filing protective orders. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The 13 allegations are cited in a petition to remove Carr from office only for his current term, which ends in December. A conviction would not affect the term that begins Jan. 1.

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore had hoped the case would be heard before the Nov. 5 election, in which Carr faces Art Hodge. Carr's attorney, retired judge Douglas Greene, however, wanted more time for depositions.

"People will just have to make their decision in the November election on other factors," Moore said.

He considered withdrawing his petition and pursuing a civil jury trial, but decided against it.

"After looking at it, I think there's no point. There are so many obstacles that I don't know what would be accomplished," Moore said.

Judge Mauer has not yet ruled on a motion filed by Greene to dismiss Moore's petition.

"To seek to damage the reputation of a dedicated public servant like Mike Carr," Greene said, "and to try and remove him from office on the basis of Mickey Mouse charges like these, has to be motivated by some hidden agenda that I am not aware of at the present time, but that I intend to discover before I am through with this."

Moore has said nothing political influenced his petition.