7/31/2019 This Week's Stouffer Report - Court Reform - Proposed Changes to the 'Missouri Plan'

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June 28, 2012

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Court Reform: Proposed Changes to theMissouri Plan

Last week, I discussed a ballot initiative voterswill see on the August ballot. This week, I will

focus on a question slated to be on the ballot inNovember. Both of these were introduced in the

Missouri General Assembly, heard in committeesand fully debated on both the Missouri Senate

and House floors.

Senate Joint Resolution 51 is the result of

several years worth of debate about theMissouri Court Plan. Our current way of choosing

judges has been around since the 1940s.Supporters of the current system have said ithas been the model for other states and shouldnot be changed. Meanwhile, many states that

have adopted the Missouri Plan have made

changes to it or have abandoned it altogether.Unfortunately, Missouri has changed the plansince the 40s, and it is geared to favor

attorneys who want to become a judgesomeday.

Even though the secretary of states office has

not yet approved this particular initiative, it is

likely to happen later this summer and be

http://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.htmlhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.htmlhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.htmlmailto:abaker@senate.mo.gov?subject=Unsubscribe%20Stouffer%20eNewsmailto:abaker@senate.mo.gov?subject=Unsubscribe%20Stouffer%20eNewshttp://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=2932188http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=2932188http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=297http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=297http://www.sos.mo.gov/http://www.sos.mo.gov/http://www.sos.mo.gov/http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=297http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=2932188mailto:abaker@senate.mo.gov?subject=Unsubscribe%20Stouffer%20eNewshttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.html

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cleared for the November ballot.

The goal of the initiative is to update the

Missouri Court Plan. Currently, the AppellateJudicial Commissionconsists of seven members:

one Supreme Court judge, a member of the barfrom each appellate district elected by members

of the bar in that district, and a non-bar membercitizen from each appellate district appointed bythe governor.

Senate Joint Resolution 51 would replace the

judge member of the commission with anadditional member appointed by the governor.Members appointed by the governor would no

longer be non-bar members. The governor

would then appoint one member from eachappellate district and one from the state at

large. The appointed members would serveterms of four years. Their terms would be

staggered so that the governor would appointtwo when taking office and two during the

middle of his or her term. TheMissouri SupremeCourt would then appoint a former Supreme

Court or Court of Appealsjudge to serve as anonvoting member of the commission. The

changes to the Appellate Judicial Commissionwould take effect on Jan. 15, 2013.

The secretary of states office, as we told you in

a column a few weeks ago, has approved 143petitions for circulation in Missouri. If thesecretary of states office approves these

petitions, then additional questions wouldappear on the November ballot.

The most important thing to do is to vote. As wecelebrate Independence Day, let us alsoremember that a lot of folks have paid the

ultimate price for us to keep our independence.We can thank them by exercising our right to

vote.

http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=158http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=158http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=158http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=27http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=27http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=27http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=27http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=261http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=261http://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/columns/060812-SB817.htmlhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/columns/060812-SB817.htmlhttp://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012petitions/12init_pet.asphttp://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012petitions/12init_pet.asphttp://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012petitions/12init_pet.asphttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/columns/060812-SB817.htmlhttp://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=261http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=27http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=27http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=158http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=158

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Senator Stouffer serves the counties of Carroll,Chariton, Cooper, Howard, Lafayette, Macon, Ray,

Saline, and a part of Clay.

If you have questions or comments about this or anyother issue, please call toll free (866) 768-3987 or bye-mail atbstouffer@senate.mo.gov.

bstouffer@senate.mo.gov | www.senate.mo.gov/stoufferState Capitol, Room 332, Jefferson City, MO 65101 | (866) 768-3987

mailto:bstouffer@senate.mo.govmailto:bstouffer@senate.mo.govmailto:bstouffer@senate.mo.govhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/members/mem21.htmhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/members/mem21.htmmailto:bstouffer@senate.mo.govmailto:bstouffer@senate.mo.gov