Judicial selection in Missouri

Judicial selection in Missouri
Missouri Supreme Court
Method:	Assisted appointment
Term:	12 years
Missouri Court of Appeals
Method:	Assisted appointment
Term:	12 years
Missouri Circuit Courts
Method:	Assisted appointment or Partisan election
Term:	6 years

Judicial selection refers to the process used to select judges for courts. At the state level, methods of judicial selection vary substantially in the United States, and in some cases between different court types within a state. There are six primary types of judicial selection: partisan and nonpartisan elections, the Michigan method, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. To read more about how these selection methods are used across the country, click here.

This article covers how state court judges are selected in Missouri, including:

• Missouri Supreme Court,
• Missouri Court of Appeals,
• Missouri Circuit Courts, and
• Limited jurisdiction courts

As of April 2025, the selection of state judges in Missouri occurred largely through merit selection, specifically the assisted appointment method in which the governor selects a nominee from a list provided by a nominating commission. Appointed judges serve a short initial term and later run in yes-no retention elections if they wish to serve full terms.

Click here to notify us of changes to judicial selection methods in this state.

Missouri Supreme Court

See also: Missouri Supreme Court

The seven justices of the Missouri Supreme Court are chosen through assisted appointment in which the governor selects a nominee from a list provided by a nominating commission. When a vacancy occurs, a list of potential candidates is compiled by the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission and narrowed to three choices. From those three candidates, the governor appoints a new judge. After the newly appointed judge serves for at least one year, they must stand for retention in the next general election. If retained, they serve twelve-year terms.

Qualifications

To serve on the supreme court, a judge must be:

• a U.S. citizen for at least 15 years;
• a qualified state voter for at least nine years;
• licensed to practice law in the state;
• over the age of 30; and
• under the age of 70 (retirement at 70 is mandatory).

Chief justice

The chief justice of the supreme court serves a two-year term and is elected by a peer vote.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

When a vacancy occurs, a list of potential candidates is compiled by the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission and narrowed to three choices. From those three candidates, the governor appoints a new judge. After the newly appointed judge serves for at least one year, they must stand for retention in the next general election. If retained, they serve twelve-year terms.

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.