The mission of Show Me Institute is advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy. The Show-Me Institute promotes research on a variety of public policy topics.
David Stokes, a Show-Me Institute policy analyst, makes recommendations for provisions that should be included in the proposed Franklin County charter.
Research shows that judicial independence and legal system quality matter for economic growth, and that a state’s legal system outcomes depend in part on how judges are selected. A comparison of judicial selection methods across states shows that the “Missouri Plan” fares better than alternatives like partisan and nonpartisan elections.
A new policy study from the Show-Me Institute examines the varying systems of judicial selection found throughout the United States. Asking the question, “Is the ‘Missouri Plan’ Good for Missouri?” the study considers the state’s method of merit-based selection for Supreme Court judges in comparison both to the similar systems and alternate selection methods used elsewhere.
For 68 years, Missouri has selected its Supreme Court judges through a system of merit selection dubbed the “Missouri Plan.” Today, 26 states use some form of this plan, most having abandoned partisan judicial elections amid concerns about the effects of political pressure on a fair and evenhanded application of the law. Recent debates about this process in Missouri have instigated many proposals for changes. Because judicial independence is critical to a well-functioning legal system, this study will analyze judicial selection and its effect on the quality of courts.
David Stokes, a Show-Me Institute policy analyst, makes recommendations for provisions that should be included in the proposed Jefferson County charter.
Franklin County residents are considering adopting a charter form of government, which would give them the flexibility of increased local control. Charters in other Missouri counties have led to economic growth, population increases, and government stability. Would a charter be a positive change for the people of Franklin County?
The recent Supreme Court opening has raised to new prominence the simmering dispute over the true non-partisanship of the Missouri Plan. The system has worked very well for Missourians, taking some of the politics out of judgeships and efficiently filling vacancies. However, a few important changes could make the plan work even better.
William Poole, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, speaks at a luncheon commemorating the life and accomplishments of economist Milton Friedman.
An amendment to the Missouri Constitution has been proposed to designate English as the state’s official language. The amendment is unnecessary because official business is already conducted in English, and immigrants continue to learn English as they have in the past. Public policy in Missouri should address more pressing concerns.
Missouri policymakers have not waited for the U.S. Congress to enact a new federal immigration policy.Starting August 28th, new laws will punish businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants by barring them from participating in public works projects for three years, and by making those businesses ineligible to receive state loans.The new measure also prohibits illegal immigrants from being admitted to public institutions of higher education.
