All 50 judges running for re-election in the state are recommended to be retained by the Missouri Performance Evaluation Program, including both judges running to hold onto their State Supreme Court seats. The committee, made up of both lawyers and non-lawyers, made the announcement this morning at the Missouri Bar Center in Jefferson City.
This is the first time the committee has recommended all judges standing in retention elections be retained since at least 2006. President of the Missouri Bar Reuben Shelton said this morning that the commission's recommendations are critical to informing the public about the quality of their judges.
"This has sort of energized the voters," Shelton said. "You've got more voters voting and they're voting to retain good, qualified and impartial judges. So the system is working."
Because judges are required to be impartial, they aren't allowed to campaign on issues like their counterparts in the legislative and executive branches. While some judges run on a political ticket, the campaigns are hardly partisan. Because of this, it can be difficult for voters to decide which candidate to elect. Dale Doerhoff, chair of the Missouri Judicial Evaluation Committee, said the evaluations the committee produces are key for citizens to make informed choices.
"What we're trying to do is present a more comprehensive view based on merit factors like: Are they courteous? How well do they run their docket? Do they keep current? All the things one would want to know if your case was before that judge," Doerhoff said. "We believe that our system of giving more information about our non-partisan judges is more comprehensive than one would get in a partisan election."
Among the judges recommended for retention was Judge Barbara Peebles, who was recommended for dismissal by the Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline and suspended six months without pay by the State Supreme Court. Doerhoff said the high court's decision to suspend Peebles instead of removing her from office was critical in his committee's decision to recommend she be retained. Three other judges were originally not recommended to keep their seats, but all three won an appeal and eventually received the committee's recommendation. To view the committee's complete recommendation of all the judges on November 4th ballot, go to www.YourMissouriJudges.org.