Mo. Rev. Stat. § 484.250: Trial by court or commissioner.

All trials of charges preferred against attorneys shall be by the court, and in all cases of conviction the court shall pronounce judgment of removal or suspension according to the nature of the facts found; except that, if the charge be filed in the supreme court, or in one of the districts of the court of appeals, the court may appoint a special judge to hear the evidence and make report thereof to the court. In all cases the court may tax or abate the cost of the proceedings as it may deem just.