The Missouri Plan (formerly: Missouri NonPartisan Court Plan) is a judicial selection process used by certain States in the US. The Plan combines an appointment process with the popular vote.
Under the Plan, a selection committee provides the Governor of the state with the names of three candidates for office. If the Governor selects one of the candidates within 60 days, that person is appointed to the bench one year; otherwise, the committee makes the selection and appointment.
After a year, the justice runs unopposed on the next general election ballot. If the voters approve his or her retention, then the justice serves the number of years specified for the position in that state's constitution. If the voters oppose retention, the selection process starts over.
Twelve states currently use the Missouri Plan to fill appeals-level judicial vacancies:
# Alaska # Arkansas # Colorado # Indiana # Iowa # Kansas # Missouri # Nebraska # Oklahoma # Utah # Wyoming
Tennessee, Florida and California use individual variations on the Plan.
appointed and finally subjected to election
The Missouri Plan combined a selection of qualified judges and popular sovereignty. The Missouri Plan is a method of choosing judges that is adopted by the state.
Under the Missouri Plan, state judges are selected through a merit-based system that combines appointment and election. A nonpartisan commission reviews candidates and submits a list of qualified nominees to the governor, who then appoints a judge from this list. After serving for a specified term, the appointed judge faces a retention election, where voters decide whether to keep the judge in office. This system aims to reduce political influence and promote judicial independence.
missouri plan
Missouri plan.
Missouri Plan
Missouri bar
There are three main ways of selecting state court judges in the United States. The first is by direct election. The second is by democratic appointment. The third is by the Missouri Plan. There is alos a fourth way, called a hybrid, which is a combination of democratic appointment and the Missouri Plan.
Another name for the merit selection of judges is the "Missouri Plan" or the "Judicial Merit Selection System." It is a method used to appoint judges based on their qualifications and experience rather than through political appointments or elections.
a popular election for retention
A state adopted method of choosing judges. Under this plan, the governor appoints a judge from a list prepared by a commission of judges, lawyers, and ordinary citizens. Then, in the next election, voters cast a "yes" or "no" vote on whether they want the judge to stay in office.
Oh, dude, federal judges are appointed instead of being elected because the Founding Fathers were like, "Let's have some experts in law and stuff, not just the popular kids." It's all about that separation of powers and making sure judges aren't swayed by public opinion like a politician trying to win a popularity contest. So yeah, appointed judges bring that extra level of professionalism to the courtroom, you know?