Gavel Grab

When Missouri voters go to the polls in November, they should oppose changing the state’s nationally recognized merit selection plan for choosing judges, an editorial in the (Springfield, Mo.) News-Leader urges.

Defenders of the merit selection plan contend that the changes contained in a proposed constitutional amendment would destroy the system, while supporters of the proposed revisions portray them as a modest tweaking of the system (see Gavel Grab).

Under the proposal, the governor would get more influence over choosing members of a judicial nominating commission that screens candidates for the state Supreme Court and the state Court of Appeals.  In addition, a state Supreme Court judge would be removed from a voting position on the commission.

“The change in the Missouri Plan … will accomplish little, including its stated reason — providing more accountability when judges make unpopular decisions,” the editorial states. It says the resolution’s sponsor, state Sen. Jim Lembke,  is “fixing no real problem with a change that offers no real solution.”

To read more on merit selection in Missouri, see Gavel Grab.

Tags: Merit Selection, Missouri