Remember to review online 2024 judicial performance reviews before election
Visit YourMissouriJudges.org to see each judge's review
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
The general election is next week.
The Missouri Judicial Performance Review Committee (composed of non-lawyers, lawyers, and retired judges from across the state) has reviewed the performance of all nonpartisan judges seeking retention in the Nov. 5, 2024, general election. Their findings are available at YourMissouriJudges.org.
“Judicial retention elections are unique in that judges up for retention do not campaign,” 2024-25 Missouri Bar President Shelly Dreyer said. “These anonymous, nonpartisan committee reviews take place to help ensure that politics have as little impact as possible in an election.”
The committee reviewed the performance of 71 judges, including two Supreme Court of Missouri judges, 10 Court of Appeals judges, 34 circuit court judges, and 25 associate circuit court judges in circuits where the judges are appointed under the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan. The committee found all judges substantially meet overall judicial performance standards.
Although the committee operates independently of the bar and judiciary, The Missouri Bar is tasked with sharing the independent committee’s findings with the public. The Missouri Bar funds the review process, which was created by the Supreme Court of Missouri.
“Since 1940, The Missouri Plan has served as a model for the nation, and it continues to be right for the people of Missouri because it attracts high-quality judges in the least political way and ultimately gives the people the final say,” Dreyer said. “The Judicial Performance Review Committee of lawyers, non-lawyers, and retired judges is essential to carrying out the plan’s intent.”
The complete performance review information of each judge is available at YourMissouriJudges.org. For quick reference, landing pages for voters by circuit are provided:
- Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District
- Missouri Court of Appeals-Western District
- Missouri Court of Appeals-Southern District
- Jackson County (16th Circuit)
- St. Louis County (21st Circuit)
- St. Louis City (22nd Circuit)
- Greene County (31st Circuit)
The committee considers a variety of information about each judge, including lawyers’ ratings of the judges, jurors’ ratings of some trial judges, and written opinions from judges. The public can access these items at YourMissouriJudges.org.