HJR 66 -- Judicial Appointment Process

Sponsor:  Walton

Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment
changes the qualifications and process for selecting judges.  The
amendment shortens the terms of Missouri Supreme Court judges
from 12 years to 10 years and court of appeal judges from 12
years to eight years.  The minimum age to become a judge is
raised from 30 years to 40 years, and a judicial candidate must
be a licensed attorney for at least 10 years with five years'
experience as a trial attorney.  The amendment also changes the
appointment of members to the Commission on Retirement, Removal,
and Discipline and makes the commission the sole arbiter in the
decision to remove a judge.

Individual circuits will be allowed to choose the method of
judicial appointments by initiative petition not more than once
every four years.  The petition must be signed by at least 10% of
the voters of each county in the circuit voting in the last
gubernatorial election.  The initiative question will be on the
ballot in the next general election and must be approved by the
majority of voters to take effect.  A circuit can fill judicial
vacancies by:

(1)  Election using a nonpartisan ballot process;

(2)  Election using a partisan ballot process;

(3)  Appointment by the Governor with the advice and consent of
the Senate; or

(4)  Appointment by the Governor from a panel of candidates
nominated by a judicial commission which is organized to select
the panel.

Voters also may choose the method of filling judicial vacancies
in a court of appeal and the Missouri Supreme Court by a majority
vote every 10 years.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm