JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court has reinstated campaign contribution limits.

UPDATE: The mother ship has the main story. I’ll have a detailed version in tomorrow’s paper.

Here’s a link to the full court opinion.

It’s unclear exactly when the limits go back into effect, but the court will be accepting briefs until Aug. 3 on the question of whether to order refunds going back to Jan. 1. Bottom line: the court may well order everyone to return all overlimit contributions.

Attorney General Jay Nixon’s campaign declined comment, as did Nixon (other than his official spokesman, Scott Holste, noted that the law of the land in Missouri now includes donation limits.)

Here’s the governor’s comment, just emailed:

“The Supreme Court has struck down this law because of a technical issue,” said Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. “This will deny Missourians the transparency in the political process that was made possible by this bill.”

?UPDATE #2:
In response to queries, YES, this affects candidates at all levels. The individual campaign donation limit for many municipalities now reverts to $325 or $650 per election.

Also, the money at risk for most candidates who have accepted overlimit donations is any of it above double the limit.

That’s because a candidate (other than those for School Board or other offices without primaries)can accept the limit for the primary, and again for the general election.

Which means, in the case of Blunt and Nixon, that they can unquestionably keep $2,550 in any individual donation. ($1,275 for the primary, and again for the general).

It’s the money above that that’s now in limbo.