Nixon Campaign Statement on Hulshof's Proposal to Dismantle Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan

In response, Attorney General Nixon’s campaign spokesman, Oren Shur, released the following statement:

“Politics should not be part of the judicial nomination process, and the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan has served as a model for states across the nation. By dismantling the Court Plan, changing the Constitution and giving complete power to the Governor to appoint judges, the Congressman’s plan would bring more politics into the process. That’s a clear step in the wrong direction.

“Jay Nixon believes we need more transparency in the judicial selection process, but we must protect the nonpartisan court plan and keep politics out.

“Congressman Hulshof’s announcement today was clearly an attempt to distract Missourians from the most important issue facing our state, the economic crisis.  Congressman Hulshof can’t defend his votes in Washington to help big corporations ship Missouri jobs overseas, so he’s desperately trying to turn everyone’s attention to something else. Missourians are hurting and our economy is in shambles, so the Congressman’s strategy won’t work.”

The Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan was approved by the voters in 1940 and has served as a model for states across the nation.