Stouffer: Judges & Other Ballot Issues Will Be on Your November Ballot

With a critical election on the way, it is important to remember that there are many more races than the statewide and federal mid-term seats that will appear on your ballot. Voters will also be asked to decide the future of most of the judges in the state of Missouri.

Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan, also known as The Missouri Plan, applies to judges who sit on the Supreme Court of Missouri and the Missouri Court of Appeals. Voters will be asked whether or not to retain these judges on November 2.

The 21^st Senatorial District is in the Court of Appeals' Western District. In addition to Missouri Supreme Court Justice Zel Fischer, folks will be asked "yes" or "no" to retain Appeals Court judges:

• Alok Ahuja, who was nominated in 2007 by Gov. Blunt;
• Victor Howard, who was nominated by Gov. Carnahan in 1996;
• Karen King Mitchell, who was nominated in 2009 by Gov. Nixon;
• Mark Pfeiffer, who was nominated by Gov. Nixon in 2009; and
• James Welsh, who was nominated in 2007 by Gov. Blunt.

Clay County also has some of its own judges in the Seventh Circuit, as mandated by the Missouri Plan:

• Shane Alexander, who was nominated by Gov. Blunt in 2008; and
• K. Elizabeth Davis, who was also nominated in 2008 by Gov. Blunt.

In Clay County, voters will also decide the fate of two Associate Circuit Judges:

• Donald Norris, who was appointed in 2004; and
• David Chamberlain, who was appointed in 2008.

There will be other judges on the ballot in other parts of Missouri, including the Court of Appeals' Southern District:

• Robert Barney, who was nominated by Gov. Blunt in 1995; and
• Donald Burrell, Jr., who was nominated in 2008 by Gov. Blunt.

There will only be one judge up for retention in the Eastern District:

• Mary Hoff, who was nominated in 1996 by Gov. Carnahan.

Larger areas of the state are divided into circuits as well, including:

• St. Louis (22^nd Circuit);
• St. Louis County (21^st Circuit);
• Jackson County/Kansas City (16^th Circuit);
• Platte County (6^th Circuit); and
• Greene County (31^st Circuit).

Even though the Missouri Plan has seen its fair share of criticism over the years, it continues to be a model for other states and gives folks the opportunity to have their say in who stays and who goes. Occasionally, a judge will not be retained, at which point picking a replacement is up to the governor and a lengthy, thorough screening process. This is yet another reason why voting is so very important.

Related Articles on Ballot Issues:

• August 26, 2010 – Amendment 1: Electing Assessors Instead of Appointing Them
• September 2, 2010 – Amendment 2: Ballot Initiative for Veterans
• September 9, 2010 – Amendment 3: Ballot Question Would End Double Taxation
• September 16, 2010 – Proposition A: The Stouffer Report: Ending Double Taxation in Missouri
• September 24, 2010 – Proposition B: Passing Prop B Will Harm Rural Missouri