What is the Missouri plan, and how does it affect the governor's power?
The Missouri Plan, also known as the merit-based judicial selection process, is a method of selecting judges for state courts. Under this plan, a non-partisan commission nominates candidates for judicial positions based on their qualifications, and the governor appoints one of the nominees to the bench. The appointed judge then serves for a period of time before facing a retention election, where voters decide whether or not to keep them in office.
The Missouri plan does not directly affect the governor's power, as they still have the authority to appoint judges from the list of nominees provided by the non-partisan commission. However, it does limit their ability to appoint judges based solely on political considerations, as the commission is required to evaluate candidates based on their qualifications and experience. This helps to ensure that the judges appointed under the Missouri plan are competent, independent, and free from political influence.