Missouri plan to change way judges are selected is rebuffed
A plan that would change the way state judges are picked received a stinging legislative setback Thursday.
House members’ 83-69 vote against the proposed constitutional amendment, combined with a decision by supporters to abandon a petition drive to put the measure on the November ballot, means the issue is dead this year.
The changes would have removed state Supreme Court judges from the panels that select new judges and replaced those spots with governor-appointed citizens. The plan also would have reduced the number of slots given to those selected by the Missouri Bar Association and granted the governor greater latitude in rejecting a panel’s nominees . . .