Missouri Plan opponents put on full-court-press in final days
JEFFERSON CITY — Ignoring statements from Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler last week that the continued debate over HJR10 was causing him to “throw up,” supporters of the resolution are continuing to press their case in the final days of the Legislature.
HJR10 would make changes to the Missouri Plan, the process by which judges are chosen for top courts in the state. The plan would give more control to the governor and the Legislature, and add more transparency to the process. Critics of the Missouri Plan believe that a small group of trial lawyers control the process by which a judicial commission chooses finalists. The governor chooses judges from the list of three finalists given to him.
Missouri’s legal community objects to the proposal and says critics have yet to point to any bad judges that have been appointed by the system that is supposed to consider merit over politics. Historically, the Missouri Plan has been a model for other states in how to choose judges.
This week, Better Courts for Missouri, which is the group behind HJR10, started running television ads and radio ads telling voters to call their senators to persuade them to allow HJR10 to get to a vote. The proposal has been stalled by opponents in the Senate and it has been the subject of several hours of filibuster.
The ad lists a phone number for the Senate administrator, not specific senators. The administrator’s office said it is not tracking opinion on the issue.
Also, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder added his support to HJR10 today. In a news release, Kinder said the issue deserved to go to a vote of the people.
“This proposal would allow Missourians to vote on how they want their courts to operate,” said Kinder. “It is my belief an issue such as this should be decided by the people, not politicians.”
The Kinder news release did not say whether the lieutenant governor actually supported the changes HJR10 would make to the Missouri Plan, but Kinder spokesman Gary McElyea said Kinder fully supports the changes offered by HJR1.0
Always an optimist, James Harris of Better Courts said he hoped the issue would come up again before the session ends Friday:
“We are optimistic that HJR10 debate will resume as this is an important issue that the people have a right to vote upon,” said Harris. “All we are asking is for the senate to place judicial selection reform on the ballot for people, not politicians or the legal elite to decide.”
Tony:
What is your source for stating that the “legal community” opposes the bill? The Bar Association does not speak for the legal community. There are many, many lawyers who believe themselves to be an active and integral part of the “legal community” who strongly support the bill.
Kevin Engler. Rarely in life does one come across someone that puts as much effort in acting and looking tough.
When we do come across these rare creatures, they all usually end up falling under the same category: Looks like Tarzan, Plays like Jane.
The Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan works. It has worked for years and in the process has become a national model. Those who oppose it want to inject politics into the process to get their way. We should let our lawmakers know we appreciate them opposing this wrongheaded proposal.
After seeing Judge Dolan’s decision yesterday in the DUI crash that killed a highway worker in ‘06, change the system!
If you disagree with a ruling by a judge appointed under the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, you can vote against retaining that judge. There is recourse. Don’t damage a national model that works because of transitory political winds.