Jul 14 2008
Voices of Merit: Missouri Plan Works
In a weekend commentary in the St. Louis Dispatch, Missouri Bar President Charlie J. Harris praises the judicial selection system used in Missouri, the model for many other Merit Selection plans and proposals:
No million-dollar campaigns, no vicious attack ads. . . . The beauty of the plan is that judicial candidates don’t have to curry the favor of either political party or prowl about for campaign contributions. What judicial candidates do need are impeccable credentials, a strong understanding of the law and the standing within the legal profession and their community to gain the trust and respect of others.
Harris contrasted the situation in Missouri with the ugly judicial elections in many states, such as Pennsylvania, noting: “In those states, voters are barraged by demeaning political attack ads, designed to destroy the opposing candidate’s credibility. The content of those ads encourages the public to think poorly of the candidate, and the money behind the ads raises serious concerns.”
The proposal to bring Merit Selection to Pennsylvania includes a framework based on the Missouri Plan, modified to reflect the unique cultural and political history of Pennsylvania. We hope Pennsylvania will soon join states like Missouri that choose their appellate court judges through Merit Selection.
Tags: Charlie Harris, Merit Selection, Missouri, Missouri Bar, Missouri Plan, Opinion, other states, Pennsylvania
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Rep. Jim Lembke has proposed eliminating the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, which has protected Missouri courts for nearly seven decades by requiring the selection of judges based on merit rather than on political affiliation. Citing his attack on the state’s judiciary and values out of touch with Missourians, the Committee to Stop Lembke was created to oppose the election of Jim Lembke to the State Senate. Visit http://www.StopLembke.com for details.