The Current Process Is As Political As It Gets
Posted: 1/5/2012
This paper details the political affiliations of three of the members of the Appellate Judicial Commission, each of whom is connected to MATA.
The Consequences of Judicial Selection: A Review of the Supreme Court of Missouri, 1992-2007
Posted: 12/8/2011
This is a Federalist Society White Paper examining the issues that have arisen with Missouri's judicial selection system.
Nationwide Judicial Merit Selection Systems
Posted: 12/8/2011
Missouri is not the only state utilizing merit to select judicial appointees. This document provides a nationwide summary of other states' "Missouri Plans."
Not-So-Serious Threats to Judicial Independence
Posted: 12/8/2011
This article from the Virginia Law Review concerns modern threats to the independent judiciary amid accusations that some judges may be 'activist.' The judiciary's constitutional role as interpreter of statute is emphasized as are the dangers of non-elected judges using the bench as a legislative platform. Page 22 contains an excellent discussion on judicial appointments and why they are supposed be a political, not "non-partisan," process.
Presentation on the Need for Reform
Posted: 12/8/2011
In this presentation given Feb. 5, 2008, in front of the Special Committee on General Laws, author William J. Placke outlines the problems associated with the current "Missouri Plan" and offers proposals on how Missouri's judicial selection process may be reformed to better serve Missourians.
Nationwide Judicial Selection Public Input Spectrum
Posted: 12/8/2011
This graph presents a nationwide spectrum of the degree of public input into judicial selection. You will find Missouri ranked amongst the lowest in terms of public judicial accountability.
For Most Likely Voters, the Missouri State Supreme Court is a Mystery
Posted: 12/8/2011
This 2007 Federalist Society-sponsored survey outlines the public's knowledge of the current judicial selection process.
Kansas City Bar & Federalist Society Presentation
Posted: 12/8/2011
Learn how Kansas and Missouri's "Missouri Plans" are broken and what citizens of each state may do to correct problems inherent in them. This is a presentation given to the Kansas City Bar and Federalist Society on November 14th, 2007.
Appellate Judicial Commission Election Memo
Posted: 12/8/2011
Are you unconvinced that trial lawyers have a vested interest in selecting the judges before which they practice? If so, read this Action Alert memo to MATA members sent prior to a lawyer's selection to the Appellate Judicial Commission.
Sunshine Request Submitted to Appellate Apportionment Commission
Posted: 12/2/2011
This is a copy of the Sunshine Request submitted to the Appellate Apportionment Commission asking for records for the numerous meetings the group has held. Only one open hearing was arranged - all other work by the committee was done behind closed doors.
Justice Hijacked
Posted: 12/10/2010
This report by the American Justice Partnership details the way in which George Soros and other wealthy liberals seek to advance their agenda by removing the people from the judicial selection process and using so-called "merit selection" to directly influence the political composition of our courts.
Missouri Chief Justice Price Announces Changes to Missouri Plan
Posted: 9/30/2010
While the legal establishment has embraced small steps to encourage openness and accountability, their reforms do not go far enough.
Pacific Research Institute 2010 Tort Liability Index
Posted: 8/13/2010
This publication is a thorough examination of the costs of the U.S. tort system, both on a national and state level.
New Report on Litigation Lobby Released
Posted: 2/11/2010
The Center for Legal Policy of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research has released the newest Trial Lawyers Inc. report, entitled K Street: A Report on the Litigation Lobby 2010. The report details the legal industry’s grasp over the judicial process, their influential role in political campaigns, and their numerous attempts to make it easier to file frivolous lawsuits.
We encourage you to read this very interesting report.
Justice Denied: Missouri Supreme Court Proclaims Itself Above the Law
Posted: 4/20/2009
In a letter dated April 16, The Missouri Supreme Court stated that the Sunshine Law does not apply to the court. The Supreme Court has refused to comply with Better Courts for Missouri's sunshine request for information pertaining to the Court's usage of state resources to lobby against judicial selection reform.
Better Courts for Missouri Praises Justice O'Connor's Call for More Transparency in Missouri's Judicial Selection Process
Posted: 3/3/2009
Better Courts for Missouri praises former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's support for transparency in the judicial selection process and urges Missouri Chief Justice Stith to support reform that will increase transparency and encourage public input.
Veto Power: Missourians Declare Governor Should NOT be Restricted to Commission's First Three Nominees
Posted: 2/10/2009
This 2007 Federalist Society-sponsored survey presents the public's thoughts on the Governor's ability to select judicial appointees.