Missouri Governor Considered Changes to Judicial Selection
Governor Mike Kehoe has signaled his intent to review the state’s current process for selecting Supreme Court judges.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced he will consider potential modifications to the state’s judicial selection process, known as the Missouri Plan. The move follows the governor's expressed disagreement with recent rulings from the state's highest court.
Why it matters
The Missouri Plan dictates how judges are appointed and retained by voters, serving as a foundational element of the state's judicial system. Potential reforms could reshape the composition and oversight of the court, which currently includes seven justices.
The Missouri Supreme Court consists of seven judges who serve 12-year terms, with a mandatory retirement age set at 70. Justices are required to undergo a statewide retention election following their initial appointment.
The players
Mike Kehoe
Mike Kehoe is the Governor of Missouri who has initiated a review of the state judicial appointment system.
Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson is a Missouri Supreme Court judge who was appointed in 2012 and faces a retention vote in 2026.
The details
Under the current system, judges must stand for retention elections to remain on the bench after their appointment. Judge Paul Wilson, who has served since 2012, is set to appear on the statewide ballot for retention on November 3, 2026.
Timeline
Judge Paul Wilson was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2012.
The retention ballot for Judge Paul Wilson is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
The Missouri Legislature will convene to debate judicial selection changes in January 2027.
Legal Context
The Missouri Plan serves as a historical benchmark for judicial merit selection designed to remove political influence from the appointment process. Proposed modifications to this framework reflect a shift in how the state manages the intersection of gubernatorial authority and judicial independence.
Proposed changes to the Missouri Plan could alter how justices are retained, directly affecting the ballot measures residents see during judicial elections. The debate may lead to new legislative oversight requirements for judges currently sitting on the Supreme Court.
The takeaway
The upcoming legislative session will determine the future of how judges are selected and retained across the state. Residents should monitor the 2026 retention election to see how current judicial candidates perform under the existing framework.
What happens next
The Missouri Legislature is scheduled to begin formal debates regarding potential modifications to the judicial selection process when the session convenes in January 2027.
Further reading
For more background on the state's legal procedures, visit Criminal Justice.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox2Now.
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