Missouri was one of the very first states to adopt a merit based selection process for judges at the state court level. Since 1940, the judges on the Missouri Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal have been selected rather than elected. The Missouri Plan, as it has come to be known, has been under fire in recent years, with many outside entities spending millions of dollars trying to get Missouri voters to overturn the Plan and elect our appellate judges.

This video, produced by the Missouri Bar, does a great job explaining the history of the Missouri Plan and why it remains relevant and necessary today. We hope you will take a few minutes and watch.

If you have any questions about the Missouri Plan, or are interested in having someone discuss the plan with a civic group or organization, please contact us.