Section 17.06. Removal of state officers; impeachment; address.

 

(1)  Any civil officer of this state may be removed from office by impeachment for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors as provided in article VII, section 1 , of the constitution ; and any supreme court justice or circuit court judge may also be removed from office by address of both houses of the legislature as provided in article VII, section 13 , of the constitution .

(2)  In this section, “address" means a procedure for removal of a judge from office based on a document entitled “Address" which specifies charges against a judge alleging misconduct or that the judge is not physically or mentally qualified to exercise the judicial functions of the judge's office. A copy of the address containing the charges against the judge shall be served upon the judge. The judge shall have the opportunity of being heard to present a defense against the charges. The judge may be removed from office by address of both houses of the legislature if two-thirds of all members elected to each house concur therein.

(3)  A district attorney may be removed by the governor, for cause.

1971 c. 142 ; 1983 a. 192 ; 1989 a. 31 ; 1991 a. 316 .