President's page: Building a lawyer-leader network to educate public about judicial retention process

Athena Dickson, 2025-2026 Missouri Bar president

One of the most important roles of the legal profession is public education — particularly when it comes to the third branch and our judicial system. Nowhere is that responsibility more evident than during judicial retention election years, when citizens are asked to vote on whether judges should remain in their positions, often with limited understanding of how the retention process works or why it exists. 

Lawyers are uniquely positioned to help bridge that gap. Many of you already do so — not just through your professional work, but through leadership roles in civic and community organizations across the state. Members of this bar serve in organizations such as the Optimist Club, Rotary, Eagles, Lions, chambers of commerce, neighborhood associations, and other civic groups that regularly host speakers and educational programs. 

The Missouri Bar is building a database of civic education resources — a network of lawyer-leaders embedded in their communities who are willing to help educate Missouri residents about the Missouri Plan and the judicial retention process. The goal is to inform the public about the structure, purpose, and safeguards of retention elections, and to underscore the importance of an informed electorate.

To accomplish this, I am asking our members to take a moment to share with us the civic and community leadership positions you currently hold. This includes officer roles, board service, committee leadership, or active participation in organizations that engage the public. By identifying where our members are already involved, The Missouri Bar can more effectively and responsibly deploy resources about our courts, judicial selection, and Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan. 

Having this network will allow The Missouri Bar to more thoughtfully share judicial performance review results to ensure all Missourians have access to ongoing civics education. When civic groups request speakers or information, the bar can connect them with trusted local lawyers who understand the legal system and the communities they serve. 

Judicial independence depends, in part, on public understanding. By helping citizens understand the benefits of merit selection and the retention process, lawyers help preserve confidence in the courts and the rule of law. This effort reflects the best traditions of our profession — service, education, and leadership. 

Please visit MoBar.org/lawyer-leader and submit your civic involvement. Your willingness to serve, and to be counted as a resource, strengthens both our communities and our justice system. Please also reach out to MoPlan@MoBar.org if you are willing to volunteer to help educate about the importance of the judiciary and champion Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan.¹ 

Thank you for your continued commitment to the profession and to public service.

Endnotes 
1 Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan, commonly known as The Missouri Plan, governs selection and retention of judges on the Supreme Court of Missouri, the Missouri Court of Appeals, and six circuit courts (Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in the Kansas City area; both the county and City of St. Louis; and Greene County in the Springfield area). Learn more at YourMissouriJudges.org.