judgesonmerit.org

“Vote Yes for Question 1,” a coalition of reform-minded Missourians who want to improve how Greene County selects its judges, has gathered far more than the 12,000 signatures required to put their initiative on the ballot. If voters vote yes for Question 1 this November, Greene County will adopt the Merit Selection system known as the Missouri Plan. Judge John Holstein, former chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, endorses the Missouri Plan and explains why it is important to avoid conflicts of interest in the courtroom:

“[D]o you know how much money your opposing counsel or the opposing party donated to that judge in the last election?” he asked. “In the partisan system, that’s all permissible and I tell you it’s a gnawing feeling in the gut of both the judge and the attorneys.”

By eliminating expensive election campaigns, the Missouri Plan makes sure that the court is accessible to potential judges who are qualified to serve, but may not have the deep pockets to support such a campaign.

Also eliminated by the Missouri Plan is the possibility that candidates will be able to buy their way to the bench by launching flashy and expensive election campaigns, supporters say.  “If we don’t want a system where the wealthy, or those who have access to the wealthy, are able to become judges, I think the preferable system is the nonpartisan selection system,” Holstein said.

We’re glad folks in Greene County get to decide how they want to select their judges, and we hope Pennsylvanians will soon get a chance to decide whether to implement a Merit Selection system for the appellate courts.

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