Missouri Supreme Court elections, 2020
| 2020 Election Dates | |
|---|---|
| Deadline to file candidacy | |
| August 18, 2020 | |
| General election | |
| November 3, 2020 | |
| 2020 State Judicial Elections | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Supreme Courts Overview | |
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Patricia Breckenridge was retained to the Missouri Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 73.9% of the vote.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Missouri modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Any registered voter could cast an absentee ballot (subject to a notarization requirement) in the general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and results
Breckenridge's seat
General election candidates
- Patricia Breckenridge (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
Past elections
2018
- See also: Missouri Supreme Court elections, 2018
Missouri Supreme Court
Mary Rhodes Russell was retained to the Missouri Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 71.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
71.9
|
1,472,819 | ||
No |
28.1
|
574,502 | |||
Total Votes |
2,047,321 | ||||
|
|
Missouri Supreme Court
Wesley Brent Powell was retained to the Missouri Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 71.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
71.4
|
1,470,265 | ||
No |
28.6
|
588,894 | |||
Total Votes |
2,059,159 | ||||
|
|
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2016
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About the Missouri Supreme Court
- See also: Missouri Supreme Court
The Missouri Supreme Court is composed of seven judges who are appointed by the governor and then must stand for retention by voters thereafter. A full term on the court is 12 years. Retention elections take place during Missouri's general elections, which are held every two years in even-numbered years.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2020 election. Judges on the Missouri Supreme Court are appointed to their seats.
| ■ Patricia Breckenridge | Appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt (R) in 2007 | |
| ■ George Draper | Appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon (D) in 2011 | |
| ■ Zel Fischer | Appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt (R) in 2008 | |
| ■ Wesley Brent Powell | Appointed by Gov. Eric Greitens (R) in 2017 | |
| ■ Mary Rhodes Russell | Appointed by Gov. Bob Holden (D) in 2004 | |
| ■ Laura Denvir Stith | Appointed by Gov. Bob Holden (D) in 2001 | |
| ■ Paul C. Wilson | Appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon (D) in 2012 |
Selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Missouri
The judges of the Missouri Supreme Court are selected according to the Missouri Plan. When a vacancy occurs, a list of potential candidates is compiled by the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission and narrowed to three choices. From those three candidates, the governor appoints a new judge.[1]
Newly appointed judges stand for retention in the next general election occurring one to three years after they take office. If retained, they serve 12-year terms.[1]
Selection of the chief justice or judge
The chief justice of the supreme court serves a two-year term and is elected by peer vote. By tradition, the court elects the most senior judge who has not yet served as chief justice.[1]
Qualifications
To serve on the Missouri Supreme Court, a judge must be:
- a U.S. citizen for at least 15 years;
- a qualified state voter for at least nine years;
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- over the age of 30; and
- under the age of 70 (retirement at 70 is mandatory).[1]
If a judge wishes to continue serving past the age of 70 and has not already occupied the bench for 12 years, he may petition the commission on retirement, removal and discipline to serve until the age 76.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri
State courts:
Missouri Supreme Court • Missouri Court of Appeals • Missouri Circuit Courts • Missouri Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Missouri • Missouri judicial elections • Judicial selection in Missouri
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