UPDATE: James Harris says his group plans to only seek signatures for one of the two conflicting ballot initiatives, depending on which one gets through the court process. He says he doesn’t necessarily have a preference between the two initiatives, but…

JEFFERSON CITY — An initiative petition drive to repeal Missouri’s nonpartisan court plan passed its first hurdle Tuesday.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan approved the petition’s form and released the ballot title that will be used if supporters collect enough signatures…

UPDATE: James Harris, director of the non-profit Better Courts for Missouri, took issue with me suggesting that ShowMe Better Courts was formerly Better Courts for Missouri. They are two distinct groups, he says. Perhaps a history of the organization would help.

In…

UPDATE: The oft-maligned Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys has responded to the proposed ballot initiative on the Missouri Plan with a sharply worded news release of its own:

“Better Courts for Missouri should change its name to Justice for the Highest…

UPDATE: James Harris responded to the Bar Association news conference by sending out a news release pointing out both Burke and Walther (see below) are members of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys: “This is a diversionary tactic to focus attention…

State Treasurer Sarah Steelman announced this morning that she has added “prominent Republican consultant James Harris as a political advisor” to her campaign for governor.

Harris had been a key operative for Gov. Matt Blunt, first with his campaign and later in his…