SPONSOR: Chappell
Upon voter approval, this constitutional amendment requires Missouri Supreme Court judges, judges of the Court of Appeals, circuit judges, and associate circuit judges to be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, rather than being selected by the Governor from one of three names given to him or her by the Nonpartisan Judicial Commission or elected by the county. Currently, voters outside of the City of St. Louis and Jackson County can vote to have their circuit and associate circuit judges selected by the Governor under the nonpartisan court plan or to discontinue the plan and instead elect the judges themselves. This amendment repeals that provision and it repeals all provisions related to the nonpartisan court plan and the Nonpartisan Judicial Commission.
Currently, terms for judges of the Missouri Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals are 12 years; terms for circuit judges are 6 years; and terms for associate circuit judges are four years. This amendment changes all terms to seven years.
The amendment specifies that judges of the Missouri Supreme Court, of the Court of Appeals, and of the various circuit courts and associate judges in office as of or with a term starting on January 1, 2027, will hold office for the remainder of their terms, after which the office will be vacated and subject to appointment under the amendment.