In the last of four discussions as part of our town hall meeting about statewide ballot issues we take a look at Amendment 3, concerning proposed changes to the way some judges are selected in Missouri.
Host Don Marsh talks with Republican state Senator Jim Lembke of St. Louis County and former Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court William Ray Price, Jr. Lembke says Amendment 3 is a step in the right direction while Price opposes it.
Official Ballot Title: (source: Missouri Secretary of State website)
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to change the current nonpartisan selection of supreme court and court of appeals judges to a process that gives the governor increased authority to:
- appoint a majority of the commission that selects these court nominees; and
- appoint all lawyers to the commission by removing the requirement that the governor's appointees be nonlawyers?
There are no estimated costs or savings expected if this proposal is approved by voters.
The event is sponsored by Beyond November, a collaboration of St. Louis Public Radio, the Nine Network of Public Media and the St. Louis Beacon along with FOCUS St. Louis®