Missouri
Missouri’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Missouri. The court has six judges and one chief justice, who is selected for a two-year term by the other members of the court. (Source: Missouri Supreme Court Judges)
Judicial Selection
The governor appoints judges to the Supreme Court of Missouri from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. After at least one year on the court, the judge may stand for a 12-year term in an unopposed yes/no retention vote at the time of Missouri’s next general election. Judges may stand for additional terms in the same retention process. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor appoints a judge from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 70.
State Constitution
Missouri has had four state constitutions adopted between 1820 and 1945. As of January 1, 2024, it had 131 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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What We're Watching in the 2026 Elections
State Court Report’s new Election 2026 hub provides coverage of major legal and judicial developments shaping this election cycle.
The Next Wave of Legislative Assaults on State Courts
Utah’s rush to add seats to its supreme court signals a major escalation in legislative tactics to curb judicial independence.
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State courts — and to some degree federal courts — play a significant role in every stage of the direct democracy process.
New Year Scholarship Roundup: Federal-State Conflict, State Courts, and Election Administration
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2026 Abortion-Related Ballot Measures
Ballot measures continue to be a tool in the fight over abortion rights, with some states attempting to expand rights and others looking to shore up restrictions.
Voting Rights and Democracy in State Courts
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Power of State Constitutional Rights
State Constitutional Amendments and State Conventions
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Power of State Constitutional Rights