Water Damage Restoration in St. Louis, MO

In addition to federal, state and local races, judges will be on the ballot in every Missouri county this November. While some judges are elected in partisan elections, Missouri also has a non-partisan merit selection system.

Missourians will go to the polls in November to vote for high-profile offices such as president and governor and on hot-button issues like abortion access and sports betting.

But they will also have a say on the makeup of the state’s trial and appeals courts through judicial elections. Here are some of the key things to know about those races.

1. Which counties will have judges on the ballot?

All of them, although the questions that voters are asked about their judges will vary.

In the vast majority of Missouri’s 115 counties, the judges who oversee trials are selected in partisan elections. That means voters can have multiple candidates to choose from for each division (the official term for an individual courtroom), although many of the general election races are not contested.

But in six counties – the city of St. Louis and St. Louis, Greene, Platte, Clay and Jackson counties – those circuit and associate circuit judges are nominated by the governor from a panel of three candidates picked by a nonpartisan commission. At every general election, some of those judges are up for retention. That means voters are asked if that specific judge should stay on the bench – they do not run against another candidate. It’s a judicial selection process known as the Missouri plan, or the nonpartisan court plan.

The Missouri plan also covers the state’s Eastern, Western and Southern District courts of appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. That means in some places like St. Charles and Franklin counties, voters will choose trial judges in partisan elections and then be asked whether they want to retain appeals court judges.

This year, there are 74 judges up for retention.

2. Why do some counties elect their judges and others use the nonpartisan court plan?

Beginning in the 1840s, Missouri elected all judges on partisan ballots, said Michael Wolff, a former state Supreme Court judge and former dean of the law school at St. Louis University. The nonpartisan court plan came into existence a century later through a citizen-led initiative. Counties can opt into using that method or stick with partisan elections.

“In the smaller counties, they know who the judges are,” Wolff said. “They know who's running. It's really in the bigger areas where judicial elections can be expensive. You have to go on TV and all of that. And it is much more dignified and befitting of judges to have this merit selection process in place.”

Greene County, in southwest Missouri, was the latest to adopt the nonpartisan court plan.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Thomas Albus, who was named to the bench in 2020 and stood for retention for the first time in 2022, said he probably would not have considered becoming a judge if he had to run in a partisan election “because of my distaste for trying to raise money.”

“But the judges that are elected in St Charles and elsewhere are very fine judges, and they get to choose when they want to run,” he said. He added that it took him eight tries to be chosen to fill a judicial vacancy.

3. I’ve never stepped foot inside a courtroom. Why should I vote in judicial elections?

Courts throughout Missouri resolve thousands of cases a year, and while people may not always be satisfied with the outcome, they continue to trust the process, said Albus.

“If you think the courts are not interfering in your life and your business, then I would suggest that means that you’re satisfied with the courts and it would be appropriate to vote yes to retain these judges that are helping to make them work,” he said.

The naysayers, Albus added, will always take the time to vote.

Judges who stand for retention must get 50% support to remain on the bench. In the 84 years that the nonpartisan court plan has been in effect, voters have failed to retain just four judges – in 1942, 1992 and 2016.

4. I want to learn more about the judges on my ballot. Where can I look?

Judges who are selected under the nonpartisan court plan and therefore stand for retention are reviewed by a panel that includes attorneys, judges and non-lawyers. Each judge provides the commission with examples of their written work, like a court order or an opinion. Jurors and attorneys who appear in front of the judges also fill out surveys.

This year, the Judicial Performance Review Committee found that all 74 judges standing for retention substantially met the performance review standards. Reviews of individual judges can be found online.

There is no central location to find information on judges who are running in partisan races.

Copyright 2024 St. Louis Public Radio

The APA in Brentwood is expecting six cats and four dogs Thursday. The shelter in St. Louis County said the number could be more than that.

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ST. LOUIS — The Animal Protective Association (APA) of Missouri is stepping up to the plate by helping a North Carolina animal shelter devastated by Hurricane Helene.

It comes as the death toll reaches nearly 200 people across the southeastern portion of the United States.

Officials said the French Broad River flooding has severely impacted Marshall, North Carolina, a town of nearly 800. It has left local animal shelters like the Madison County Animal Services in Marshall without adequate resources to care for their animals.

The APA in Brentwood is expecting six cats and four dogs Thursday. The shelter in St. Louis County said the number could be more than that.

The animals are coming from a shelter that has no power or water which has made it difficult for them to care for the animals. No one owned them; they were simply inside the shelter at the time of the hurricane.

The effort is a partnership with the BISSELL Pet Foundation to ensure animals get the proper care and resources.

The APA said because of the influx of animals they're helping, their Brentwood and Olivette locations will be waiving their adoption fees through Oct. 7 for all pets including the cats and dogs from North Carolina.

They're also urging people to donate to the Madison County Animal Services in Marshall where the animals came from to help them get back on their feet.

"Our hearts go out to the people and pets affected by Tropical Storm Helena," said Sarah Javier, President & CEO of APA. "The devastation caused by this flooding is truly heartbreaking. While we always prioritize animals in our community, we're committed to doing everything we can to support the animals and shelters impacted by this disaster. Every animal deserves safety and care, especially during such challenging circumstances. We're grateful for our partnership with BISSELL Pet."

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A new Missouri House committee will study the fallout of radioactive waste and World War II-era nuclear weapons production in the St. Louis region.

The initiative aims to address the long-term health, environmental, and economic consequences of nuclear weapons production in Missouri, most notably St. Louis through the Manhattan Project.

The special interim committee will hold its first meeting on Oct. 15 to gather testimony from impacted residents, former nuclear waste workers, and environmental experts. From there, the committee intends to recommend legislation to protect public health, ensure remediation efforts and possibly provide relief for impaired communities.

The following Missouri House representatives will serve on the committee:

“We must take a comprehensive approach to address the lasting impact of nuclear weapons production in Missouri,” said Rep. Byrnes (R-Wentzville) via a news release. “The health and well-being of our residents and the environment are at stake. This committee will listen to survivors, production workers, and remediation workers to understand the real-world impact on their health and financial stability.”

“Missouri has long felt the effects of nuclear weapons production, and it’s our responsibility to address the consequences head-on,” said Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres). “This committee will provide an opportunity for voices to be heard and for us to create meaningful solutions to protect our people and environment.”

The committee’s findings will form the basis for proposed legislation in Missouri’s 2025 legislative session.

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A report surfaced last year suggesting that the federal government downplayed and failed to fully investigate the risks of nuclear waste contamination that stemmed from the World War II-era Manhattan Project in St. Louis County.

The issue was recently brought to national attention when environmental investigation consultants pointed out radioactive contamination at Jana Elementary School in north St. Louis County. There are also prolonged concerns about the West Lake landfill in Bridgeton, Coldwater Creek through multiple municipalities, and a former uranium plant site in Weldon Spring.

Efforts to secure compensation for victims of radioactive contamination through U.S. Congress have gained some momentum in recent years, including a push from a local advocacy group Just Moms STL, but legislation on the matter has not passed as of September 2024.