Saturday, August 25, 2012

Committee of former judges opposes Amendment 3

(Missouri Digital News) -- A group of former state Supreme Court judges spoke out Thursday, Aug. 23, against a ballot measure that would change the selection process for Missouri's top judges.

The amendment, approved by state lawmakers during the last legislative session, would give the governor the power to appoint a majority of the commission members tasked with selecting nominees for non-partisan judgeships.

Retired Supreme Court Justice William Ray Price said supporters of the amendment are attempting to "concentrate power" in the executive branch, in order to buy judicial appointments.

"What they really are trying to do is concentrate power in one political office that they can affect by big money contributions. They aught to be honest and say that's what's going on. They want to be able to buy judicial appointments like they try and buy everything else in Jefferson City," he said.

Sen. Jim Lembke, R-Saint Louis County, who sponsored the amendment, said it will give the executive branch the power to properly check the judicial branch.

"This idea that the current system is not political is a fallacy. It is political, except it's just controlled by a very small group of Missourians," Lembke said.

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