Partisan Elections
In many areas of Missouri judges run for their seat on the bench as Republicans, Democrats or Independents. Most of Missouri's state trial judges are elected in partisan races. (More)

The Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan
Reducing the Role of Politics, Strengthening Judicial Independence

Missouri has two systems for electing judges: a partisan system and a Non-Partisan Court Plan. In most courthouses throughout Missouri, judges are elected as either Democrats or Republicans. But in the City of St. Louis, and in St. Louis, Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties, judges apply for their positions on the bench and are selected on the basis of merit. (More)

Report on Impartiality of the Judiciary
The Missouri Bar Commission on the Impartiality of the Judiciary completed more than six months of work on this report to identify appropriate involvement of The Missouri Bar in defending the judiciary and/or the individual judge who, from time to time, may be subject to unfair or inaccurate criticism, and determine how to defend The Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan.

Report in PDF Format (34 pages)

How judicial elections are different than other elections
Political candidates make promises. Judges can only promise to perform their duties to the best of their ability. (More)

History of Non-Partisan Court Plan
(from an article in the Journal of The Missouri Bar by then-President Bill Corrigan)

In 1939, seven concerned members of the Missouri House of Representatives introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would have created a system of non-partisan selection and retention for state judges. However, the House committee to which this proposal was assigned voted unfavorably, and the measure was not considered further. (More)

Why the Missouri Bar Supports the Non-Partisan Court Plan
Although no system of government is perfect and no one has found the perfect way to select and retain judges, The Missouri Bar is an ardent supporter of the Non-Partisan Court Plan.  Here's why.

Development of the Non-Partisan Court Plan
You can get a better understanding of the Non-Partisan Court Plan by reviewing how and when it was developed. In this video lecture University of Missouri Political Science Professor Rick Hardy discusses how the plan was developed and how it differs from other systems of electing judges.

Text version of Professor Hardy's lecture

Learn More
Learn more about the Non-Partisan Court Plan.
American Judicature Society
Brennan Center