Bill > HJR119

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri for certain courts, specifically the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and circuit and associate circuit judges in St. Louis and Jackson County. The key change removes the current nonpartisan judicial commission nomination process and instead allows the governor to directly appoint judges, with the advice and consent of the senate. For judicial circuits outside St. Louis and Jackson County, the resolution enables voters in each circuit to choose whether they want circuit and associate circuit judges to be appointed by the governor through a petition and election process. Voters can submit petitions signed by 10% of legal voters to have the appointment method placed on the ballot, and if a majority in each county of a circuit votes in favor, judges will be appointed by the governor. The amendment also limits how frequently this selection method can be adopted or discontinued (no more than once every four years). The proposed constitutional change would be submitted to Missouri voters at the general election in November 2026 or at a special election called by the governor.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR119&year=2026&code=R