Jonathan Beck, Carolyn Lay join Judicial Performance Review Committee
Jonathan Beck and Carolyn Lay will serve as the newest members of the Judicial Performance Review Committee, after being appointed by The Missouri Bar Board of Governors during its July 15 meeting.
The independent, 21-member Judicial Performance Review Committee evaluates the performances of appellate and trial judges appointed under the constitutional nonpartisan selection process, also known as The Missouri Plan, using judicial performance review standards. The committee was established pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rules 10.50 through 10.55. It contains nine members of The Missouri Bar, nine Missouri residents who are not licensed lawyers, and one retired judge from each district of the Missouri Court of Appeals. The Missouri Bar Board of Governors appoints both the lawyer and non-lawyer members, while the Supreme Court of Missouri appoints the three seats held by retired judges.
The Board of Governors filled vacancies for one member of The Missouri Bar and one member of the general public who are in the 22nd Judicial Circuit (St. Louis City).
Beck is a co-founder of Beck Dickhaus & Associates, LP in St. Louis and has been practicing law for over 20 years. He said he is honored to give back to The Missouri Bar and the legal profession in this new role.
“We in Missouri are fortunate to have in place the Nonpartisan Court Plan, which provides a fair and merit-based process for appointment of judges, without having to subject them to politics, elections, or fundraising,” he said. “A key element of that plan, however, is making sure the public is informed about the performance of judges and that voters can meaningfully participate in retention elections. One of the most common questions I get from non-lawyer friends is, ‘Which judges should I vote for/against?’ and I feel it is incumbent upon all of us to provide as much pertinent information to voters as we possibly can.”
Beck’s term will expire May 31, 2024.
Lay will fill one of the general public seats on the committee. Lay has decades of experience as a human resources director for several private and public institutions. She also was a clinical therapist, providing casework and clinical intervention to clients seeking social services from public agencies.
“I believe that I would bring objective yet valuable insight to this committee,” Lay said.
Lay’s term will expire May 31, 2028.
To learn more about the Judicial Performance Review Committee and the Missouri Plan, visit YourMissouriJudges.org.