Missouri’s Appellate Judicial Commission is accepting applications for a new judge to sit on the seven-member Missouri Supreme Court. Judge William Ray Price Jr. announced earlier this week that he will be resigning from the state high court on August 1 to return to private legal practice. The commission is accepting applications through July 13. Beth Riggert is the Missouri Supreme Court Communications Counsel. She says the application process is very intense. After Governor Jay Nixon appoints a judge to sit on the court, that judge will be re-evaluated after one year of service.
“Because this is a Supreme Court position, everyone in the state would have an opportunity to vote on whether this particular judge who will be chosen would get to keep their job,” said Riggert.
Judge Price Jr. says he wants his successor to be chosen through the Missouri Plan. This allows citizens to nominate any outstanding lawyers or attorneys. The commission will interview the applicants in October and choose three finalists.