Supreme Court and Appellate Judges are selected under the Missouri non-partisan plan for selecting judges. The Missouri plan has become a model for other states because it avoids the interjection of politics, money and special interests into the judiciary.
Unfortunately, some powerful interests want to undo the non-partisan court plan so they can install judges that are loyal to their political views. This would be the worst possible outcome for fairness in our Missouri courts. Recently, Chief Justice William Ray Price, Jr. of the Missouri Supreme Court delivered the State of Judiciary Address. This quote from his speech is something every Missourian should read and take to heart.
"When the people of Missouri walk into our courtrooms, they expect and deserve to have their individual case heard on its facts and on the law, without fear that a rich man or a powerful interest has already bought the promise of the judge to rule the other way. Justice is rendering to each litigant what he or she is entitled to, not using his or her case as a stepping stone for fundraising or as a stepping stone for the advancement of a particular ideological or political goal, or as payback to a contributor."
Chief Justice Price's words speak volumes about the intent to dismantle Missouri's non-partisan court plan. If you care about fairness and justice in our court systems, contact your legislator and let them know that you support the Missouri non-partisan court plan and do not want it changed.
