Judge Michael P. Wilson of Paris will retire from his post as Monroe County associate circuit judge Nov. 15 after 17 years on the bench. 

Judge Wilson was appointed by Governor Robert Holden in October 2004, succeeding Judge Carroll Blackwell. Since his appointment, Wilson has handled a wide variety of criminal, domestic, civil, juvenile and probate dockets. He has primarily served in his 10th Circuit, comprising courthouses in Paris, New London, Palmyra and Hannibal. However, he has also accepted special assignments to St. Louis, Pike, Lincoln, Adair, Audrain and Randolph counties.

He is part of a circuit- the 10th Circuit - comprising Monroe, Marion and Ralls counties - that is consistently one of the most efficient and expeditious circuits in the state. He was re-elected four times.

The Missouri Constitution requires all elected state judges to retire prior to their 70th birthday. However, they are permitted to continue many of their judicial duties as senior judges after that date. It is Judge Wilson’s intention to continue to serve as a senior judge, at least until the transition to his successor is completed. Governor Parson will appoint his successor.

Prior to his judicial appointment, Wilson was elected as Monroe County prosecutor in 1994 and served nearly 10 years, representing the state of Misouri in more than 250 litigated trials and hearings, to include murder and child sexual abuse cases. Wilson’s courtroom work in one of the three contested murder trials that he successfully prosecuted in the spring-summer of 1999 was commended in a book written by Pulitzer-prize winning author, Ron Powers, entitled, Tom and Huck Don’t Live Here Anymore (St. Martin’s Press, 2001). His work to obtain a conviction in a murder-arson case resulted in his co-selecdtion as Kansas City Arson Task Force Prosecutor of the Year in 2000.

Before returning to his Paris home and being elected prosecutor, Wilson was a 20-year Air Force veteran, serving first as a public affairs officer/journalist and later for 13 years as an Air Force attorney (JAG). He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1993. In the course of his Air Force career, he received five Meritorious Service medals. His service included assignments in Ohio, Arkansas, the Republic of Turkey, Washington D.C., Arizona and North Dakota.

He was the managing attorney (staff judge advocate) for Air Force special units and bases at his last three assignments, reporting directly to the facility commander and ultimately responsible for all legal decisions made at those facilities.